Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain has accused Emma Roddick MSP of ignoring the desperate need for new road infrastructure across the Highlands by “currying favour” with the Scottish Greens.
During a session of Holyrood questions on the coalition agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, Emma Roddick MSP pressed the First Minister on new investment for rail infrastructure in the North but avoided the issue of road infrastructure investment being compromised as part of the SNP-Green deal.
Emma Roddick MSP said:
“As a region which is currently widely dependent on car travel can the Highland and Islands expect to see real improvement in rail infrastructure perhaps including doubling of the Highland mainline and the Inverness to Aberdeen line and improvements to the Far North and West Highland lines as a result of this deal?”
The First Minister replied that public transport options and active travel would have to be developed across the Highlands to address the geographic challenges of the region.
Edward Mountain MSP commented:
“Here we have an example of an SNP politician who openly admits that the region she represents is reliant on car travel, yet deliberately avoids the concerns of Highland motorists about the lack of new road infrastructure in an attempt to curry favour with the Greens.
“Quite frankly, our Highland communities deserves better.
“I support investment into public transport and active travel but this should not come at the expense of vital upgrades to the A9, A96 and A95 as originally intended.
“It is clear that the Scottish Greens are now calling the shots behind the scenes and plans to invest in upgrading Highland roads are no longer a priority for the SNP.”
