UK Government money to investigate bypassing Dumfries and Galloway villages may never materialise

Scotland’s Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop says there is “no guarantee” that the new Labour government will deliver the cash promised by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Millions of pounds promised to investigate bypassing two Stewartry villages may never materialise.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised £8 million for a feasibility study into bypassing the A75 around Springholm and Crocketford just months before his Conservative party was voted out of office.

But now Scotland’s Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop says there is “no guarantee” that the new Labour government will deliver the cash.

She said: “The UK Chancellor in her recent statement announcing £22 billion of cuts, also included a number of investment projects that will now no longer proceed as planned but will need to wait for the conclusion of a forthcoming spending review process.

“The earliest point at which we will know whether or not the UK Government is able to commit to this funding over the relevant future financial years, allowing the design development and options appraisal for these by-passes to be concluded is spring 2025. We have therefore been offered no guarantee that such funding will be available.

“The Scottish Government is disappointed that this lack of commitment by the UK Government is impacting on our ability to make meaningful and demonstrable progress for the people and businesses of the south west of Scotland who rely on this vital route.”

The need to upgrade the A75 featured in both the Scottish Government’s second strategic transport projects review and the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review. Its inclusion in the latter has proven controversial as roads are a matter devolved to Holyrood.

Ms Hyslop made the comments in response to a question from South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth, who said: “The previous Conservative UK Government made many promises about improving the A75 during their 14 years in power and it is shocking to discover they didn’t even pass on the £8 million they promised. This was clearly yet another of the many unfunded commitments in a £22 billion black hole left by the Tories that Labour is now having to clear up as part of the budget process.

“However, ultimate responsibility for roads in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Government.

“They have failed to deliver improvements on the A75 and it’s not good enough for the SNP to say they can spend billions on upgrading the A9 but then say they are incapable of doing anything about the A75 because the last UK Government didn’t give them £8 million.

“I have already had discussions with Ministers in the new UK Government about the A75.

“I know they recognise the importance of the road for our economy. They want to work with the Scottish Government to deliver the economic growth that has been missing under previous governments.”

Galloway and West Dumfries Tory MSP Finlay Carson, who has secured a commitment from First Minister John Swinney to come to Galloway to meet A75 campaigners, said:

“From their responses my understanding is that the Department of Transport was still in discussions with His Majesty’s Treasury regarding the £8 million committed by the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fund a study on the A75.

“I am also told that the Secretary of State for Transport has met the Cabinet Secretary to discuss shared transport priorities.

“Mr Swinney stressed that the Scottish Government would engage constructively with the UK Government on this issue.

“He kindly accepted my invitation to come and experience the A75 for himself while taking part in discussions with road campaigners.”

In her reply to Mr Smyth’s question, Ms Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government is committed to improving safety, resilience and reliability on the A75 for all users travelling on this important route to benefit not just the people of Scotland but those from the wider UK too. As such, the Scottish Government will continue to engage positively and collaboratively with the UK Government on our shared priorities for transport.”

In response to Ms Hyslop’s comments, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: “We are committed to working with devolved governments to deliver on our transport priorities and ensure the economic benefits of improved connectivity are shared across the UK.

“Any further investment on the A75 will be considered at the next spending review.”

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