Selkirk bypass knocked off track

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Last updated 18 Dec 2008 09:00 0 Comments

LONG-awaited plans to build a bypass for Selkirk have hit the skids.

The Scottish Government revealed it was not on their list of priority transport projects - despite the A7 road which travels through the town having one of the highest accident rates in the country.

And now a former Borders transport spokesman, who drove a campaign to preserve the preferred route of the proposed bypass, has warned it could be another 15 years before it is back on track.

Former independent councillor Gordon Edgar, who lives in Selkirk, said: 'I think it"s a big mistake.

'The transport projects chosen all seem to be in SNP political strongholds and it"s going to affect the prosperity of the Borders. It could be another ten or 15 years before we get it back on the agenda on top of the 50 years we have already waited.

'It"s ridiculous, especially with the amount of traffic on our roads now. Huge lorries and buses and struggling to negotiate the road through the town which was built for the horse and cart.'

But he added: 'We only have to look at Melrose, and more recently Hawick, to see how successful a bypass can be. We need to protect our communities.'

Ministers last week set out a multi-billion pound transport blueprint to grow Scotland's economy.

The details were announced in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which sets out the future investment programme for transport in Scotland over the next 20 years - the biggest and most ambitious Scottish transport plan ever published.

However, despite its omission, according to local Liberal Democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis, SNP Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson had previously admitted the benefits of the project.

'The exclusion of a Selkirk bypass, after it was proven to be a positive value for money project is a shattering blow for the town and its long term regeneration plans,' he said.

And he added: 'I am demanding an explanation from the Minister as to why Selkirk has been treated in such a shabby way.'

Earlier this year, a survey by the MSP found 89 per cent of residents questioned said they would support a bypass for Selkirk.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: 'The STPR is the biggest and most ambitious Scottish transport plan ever published and sets out the future investment programme for transport in Scotland over the next 20 years.

'The 29 packages have been robustly appraised as those which best contribute to sustainable growth of the national economy.

'The STPR has recommended a programme of targeted individual investments and active route management for the A7, which will deliver both safety and operational improvements.

'The A7 Selkirk bypass was looked at as part of the STPR. However, it was not considered to deliver national strategic benefits.

'We are always prepared to discuss any transport improvements with our local and regional partners if they can be shown to return benefits at good value to the public purse.'

amcgilvray@bordertelegraph.com

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 17 Dec 08

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