Berriedale Braes Still On The Agenda

6th June 2012

Highlands & Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asked the Scottish Executive what funding it would provide for improvements to the A9 at Berridale Braes and what timeframe it had set for such improvements to take place.

In response the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Keith Brown MSP, intimated that the total cost of the works was around £250,000 and Transport Scotland had confirmed a £100,000 contribution towards the works following confirmation from other funding partners. Once the funding had all been confirmed the Scottish Executive would be able to look at timeframes.

Rhoda Grant said " I am reassured that Transport Scotland and the Government are at least looking to try and provide some substantial funding for this project, but work needs to start now, so I would urge the Government Minister to secure the funding and then tell us what the time frames are for the work to be carried out".

Councillor Graham Phillips the recently appointed chairman of Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee (TECS) said, "The estimated cost of the whole Berridale Braes project is £2.5m. The objective right now is to complete the detailed design phase and get the project shovel ready. That's what the £250,000 is for, so that work on the construction phase can start as soon as funds are available.

Councillor Phillips added,""The funding partners for this phase are Highland Council, HITRANS and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with Transport Scotland providing the balance. HITRANS has already committed its share of the budget. I have asked for a proposal to come to the next Highland Council TECS Committee in August, so we can approve our contribution. I understand the NDA Board will be asked to approve its own participation around the same time."