Dumfriesshire MSP hits out at lack of Scottish Government support for upgrading Dumfries and Galloway's trunk roads

Dumfriesshire MSP Oliver Mundell has hit out at the lack of support from the Scottish Government for the region’s main trunk roads.

He has accused Transport Secretary Michael Matheson of “failing” to commit to upgrading the A75 and A77 and says the SNP continue to see Dumfries and Galloway’s main roads as an “after thought.”

The MSP has challenged the transport secretary in the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, highlighting that it had been almost 1,500 days since Deputy First Minister John Swinney led a much heralded transport summit in Dumfries, promising to look at the issues in the area.

He said “very little progress” has been made since.

Mr Mundell pointed out: “The A75 and A77 have been completely left behind under 13 years of SNP rule and it is our local economy which suffers.

“Almost 1, 500 days have passed since a much heralded transport summit was held in Dumfries; the time for platitudes has long since passed.”

Mr Mundell said the minister has “yet again hid behind ongoing appraisals into transport options in the south west.”

He said: “We constantly get warm words, repeated promises and reviews from the SNP and successive transport secretaries when it comes to upgrading the roads in the southwest.

“The reality under the unlucky 13 years of SNP rule is a severe lack of investment and a complete lack of urgency when it comes to upgrading the A75 and A77.”