Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has defended the dualling of the A96 and the Nairn bypass

EMMA Roddick defended it's green credentials saying it will take traffic away from a town centre congested by traffic and fumes.

The MSP insists the project is not anti-green, claiming it is the opposite.

The SNP MSP said: “It’s disappointing to see people claim that this vital project is anti-green. It’s a very reductive way of looking at the issue.

“While I understand holding the view that we should move away from building roads in order to improve rail and active travel infrastructure, there has to be some recognition that driving is still a necessity for many in the Highlands, and Nairn has been waiting and asking for these improvements for decades.

“These improvements are not about encouraging more cars onto the road, they’re about acknowledging that many people have no other option but to drive on roads which are not currently as safe as they should be. That traffic is being forced through the town centre, increasing pollution and congestion compared to what we can expect when the bypass is built.

“It’s so important that those from outwith the area hear the real reasons this project is desperately needed. We have to make Nairn roads safe for those who have no other option but to drive to work and school, and we have to make space in the town centre for walking, wheeling, and cycling. That won’t happen while the traffic is the way it is.

“This project is necessary to promote green travel – not the other way around.”

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