|
Click here to return to
the Press Release Index
24th June 2008
New Report Exposes Policy Flaw
A major report published this week could
have a significant impact on local transport provision if
the Government applies its recommendations in full.
Commenting on the publication of the Audit
Scotland report entitled How Government Works: Review of
Major Capital Projects in Scotland, Alex Johnstone MSP,
Shadow Minister for Transport, said: “These depressing
figures vindicate the warnings we continually made during
the latter years of the Lib-Lab Executive about the lack of
clear prioritisation of major transport projects. Too many
projects were granted for political reasons, leading to
overstretch and thus an overrun on both cost and schedule
times. It places a huge question of competence over the
then Transport Minister, Tavish Scott.
“The current SNP Government cannot sit back
and relax in the face of the numerous errors made by Labour
and the Lib Dems – it must issue a priority list as a matter
of urgency, to avoid falling into the same trap as the last
administration.
“This Government must end the practice of
its Lib Dem/Labour predecessor and bring some certainty to
the programme of Major Capital Works by addressing the real
choices before it.
“By setting clearly defined priorities for
the capital programme, we will, for the first time, have
real certainty about the funding and timescales for
essential projects like the Aberdeen Western Peripheral
Route which could still be threatened, even at this stage,
by the SNP’s attempts to be “all things to all men”.
“The AWPR is essential to the future
economic development of the City of Aberdeen but it is at
least of equal importance to Aberdeenshire, which is seeing
unprecedented levels of development but is still seriously
restricted by an inferior road network and traffic problems
which can only be addressed through this long overdue
project.
“However, uncertainty remains over the
priority which Government attaches to the project, the
funding arrangements which are likely to be applied and the
starting and completion dates.
“For the whole of Scotland, but particularly
for the North East, the Government must take heed of this
report and act quickly.”
|
