A9 dualling delay: Highland farming lobby disappointed
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Confirmation that the 2025 deadline for dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth will not be met has prompted anger.
Over the coming days, we speak to different users of the road from lorry drivers to driving instructors for their reactions. First to give his reaction:
The farmer
Ian Wilson is a farmer at Gollanfield near Inverness as well as the Highlands regional manager for National Farmers' Union Scotland.
He regularly uses the A9 – as well as the A96 – and hopes a commitment to dualling it will be back on the agenda when a new First Minister is in post:
"I am not surprised it has not made the 2025 deadline when you see there is little or no progress on some parts of the road.
"However, I am very disappointed that the Highlands almost seem to be on the back burner.
"An awful lot of farming trucks are travelling up the A9 and a lot of livestock and crops going back down the A9. It is that old adage 'time is money'.
"As everyone knows, when you get to the central belt the distance is not the same – 100 miles south of Perth seems shorter than 100 miles north of Perth."
Reflecting on the number of crashes, he continued: "I don't think it is often people's fault.
"For those who are strangers, one minute they are on a dual carriageway and the next minute they are on a single carriageway road and probably don't realise it until they start overtaking something. I think a lot of accidents are caused by that. It is almost criminal."
Related stories:
- A9 campaigner says sound of sirens is 'horrible'
- Highlands has had a raw deal
- Your views on dualling delay
Tomorrow: The view of the regular visitor.
