Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch blasts Danny Alexander’s calls to scrap the proposed A9 average speed cameras.

Mr Thompson said: “As usual breath-taking hypocrisy from Danny.

“When the Lib-Dems were in power with Labour in the Scottish Parliament from 1999-2007 what did they do about dualling the A9 from Perth to Inverness? Nothing. What they did do was introduce the hugely unpopular triple lane sections.

“And that was pre-recession when the Scottish Capital budget had much more capacity to do major infrastructure projects. Our Capital budget now has seen swingeing cuts over the past few years implemented by whom? Danny Alexander and his Tory cronies.

“Despite these cuts plans are well advanced to make good on the dualling promise that this Government has made and the first sections in this plan will start next year.

“Everyone knows major Capital Projects cannot be conjured up quickly if only because of planning requirements, public consultations, and public inquiries to avoid the potential for legal action.

“Transport Scotland and the A9 partnership of transport professionals and users presented compelling evidence to MSP’s in the Scottish Parliament on the safety merits of average speed cameras on the A9.

“Danny could have attended that meeting but he was presumably too busy cutting budgets in London.

“Last year when the police implemented a crack down on the A9 they caught hundreds of drivers speeding. Can anyone tell me if that is stopped that safety and lives will not be saved? Even one life saved makes the case.

“The Scottish Government listened to the users about the speed of HGV’s and have acted to address these concerns with a 50MPH pilot to coincide with the camera introduction.”