'Glaringly obvious bias' on A9 investment as dualling statement prompts suggestions for work on Ross-shire blackspots

BLACK Isle and Easter Ross accident blackspots would be the ideal focus for A9 investment north of Inverness, an MP said this afternoon amid recriminations over delayed dualling on the key link.

Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone made his remarks in response to a ministerial update on A9 dualling in Holyrood .

The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representative has accused the Scottish Government of a 'glaringly obvious bias'.

The statement announced investment along the A9 from Perth to Inverness, failing to indicate any funding further north of Inverness.

Mr Stone said: "The Minister claimed that people call the A9 the ‘spine of Scotland’, linking Lowland with Highland'. In that case, I do not know how the Scottish Government expect Scotland to stand when the top half of its spine is falling apart.

"The failure to invest in the A9 north of Inverness shows that once again, the Scottish Government chooses to completely ignore the great need for improvements.

"They could start with the A9 north of the Tore roundabout, or with the dangerous junctions such as at Newmore and Tain, or the weather blackspots such as the Cambusavie bends, or many other treacherous stretches of the roads stretching to Thurso and Wick which drivers can easily name.

"This has been the situation for far too long and it once again demonstrates a bias that has become glaringly obvious."

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