Home   News   Article

Fergus Ewing is assured A96 Inverness to Auldearn dualling will not need 'green' test


By Contributor

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
An impression of the proposed A96 River Nairn crossing.
An impression of the proposed A96 River Nairn crossing.

THIS week in Holyrood we debated the need for road improvements in rural Scotland, and I took the opportunity to further press the Transport Minister, Graeme Dey, on the need to complete the dualling of the A9 and to approve the dualling of the section of the A96 from Inverness to Auldearn – including the Nairn bypass.

I did secure one key clarification which many readers of the Courier, in both Inverness and Nairn, will welcome.

I recognise some people have been concerned that the co-operation agreement reached about parliamentary votes with the Greens may mean that the A96 dualling is subject to an environmental test and that this would apply to the section from Inverness to Auldearn.

The minister confirmed to me during the debate that that is not the case.

This section will not be subject to that test, for the good reason that it has already been through the full planning process, including a rigorous Public Local Inquiry.

It would be patently absurd if, having gone through that lengthy process successfully, it faced a further hurdle that was imposed retrospectively.

This does pave the way for this section of the A96, including the Nairn bypass, which is so widely supported by people in Nairn, to be approved for funding.

I argued that the car will always be a necessity not a luxury for many in rural Scotland, and that rural Scotland comprises no less than 98 per cent of the land mass.

Moreover, after we all move to low emission vehicles we will still need roads – we should be not anti-road, but anti-emissions.

During the debate the Green Party were described as “kaftan crusaders” which amused some, if not all, in the chamber.

I did urge the need for better public transport – rail, bus and also more active travel, by bike or even Shanks’s Pony. Adding, referring to myself: “Sadly this particular pony treks no more!”

I am not sure I won the sympathy vote!

n I am sorry to see the departure of James Mackenzie Blackman who has served as the chief executive at Eden Court. James is a very experienced figure in the world of arts and entertainment and his ambitious plans for Eden Court will be his legacy.

His successor, Rebecca Holt, also has a strong pedigree and I welcome her to the post and look forward to working with her.

I am sure she will receive a warm Highland welcome.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More