Hi you probably all share my frustration at the respons Mr Brown has given me, well us. I have thought long and hard about the response and here it is. Keith Brown, MSP, Minister for Transport, T4.04, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, H99 1SP 16th November 2014 Email: [email protected] Dear Mr Brown Why Stop at Ellon? Thank you so much for eventually taking the time and trouble to respond to my letter. However you don’t seem to have taken on board that I am one of the local Councillors and I am fully aware of the background and the recent developments concerning the AWPR. I am actually at a loss to understand why you could not have answered any of the points that I raised and of course answer the crucial question, Why Stop at Ellon? For the record, the future multi-modal study should have been carried out years ago and the multi bit was only added in the last couple of years because the Scottish Government were more interested in opening up the Railway links. I have been pushing for the dualling to be looked at and this was added to the agenda after I asked Cllr Peter Argyle, Chairman of the Infrastructure Services Committee and Chairman of NESTRANs to see if the dualling of the A90 from Ellon to Peterhead could be included. In my letter I also asked the following, “Whilst on the subject of money can I ask what contribution did Glasgow City Council make to their extensive infrastructure upgrades and also what contribution did Edinburgh City Council make to the Tram line?” Something you have neglected to respond to. I also drew to your attention the fact that the North East has had no new transport infrastructure since the completion of Laurencekirk Station in 2008, yet again you give no reason for this. Perhaps it would have been better if the Scottish Government and yourself as Transport Minister, should have taken more cognisance of the Energetica Corridor when the concept was first introduced. As I have said previously Peterhead remains Europe’s largest white fish port, it is home to very significant oil sector supply industries and there are so many exciting new projects on the way including Carbon, Capture and Storage and it is referred to in the National Planning Framework as an Energy Hub. All this information seems to have been ignored by you. The economic value these projects will bring to the area could be ceased before any get started because of the poor connectivity. The A90 the only road to Peterhead is not fit for purpose. Improvement is needed now on the transport network and whilst these studies and reports are very welcome, time is really running out. It is really disturbing that a Councillor like myself has sought answers from a more senior representative in government, yet all I am treated to is an history lesson on the AWPR. What concerns me more is your vision for the NE and in particular the Energetica Corridor to Peterhead it is the future I need your comments on not the past. And again I refer you to your outgoing Leaders comment in the Evening Express regarding infrastructure spending in the North East, he said, “In the next 3 years the North East will get the lion share of the Scottish Governments Infrastructure spending.” If that is the case what plans do you have? Yours sincerely Cllr Gillian Owen Ellon & District Ward
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:22:22 +0000
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