Baker Slams City Council Administration over Haudagain Delay
Baker quizzes SNP over yet more stalling on Haudagain
North-East MSP Richard Baker has today slammed Aberdeen City Council’s disastrously transport strategy as it emerged there is likely to be yet further delay in consultation on improvements to the Haudagain roundabout.
The decision looks likely to come as a result of the rejection of the Third Don Crossing and means that new plans will not be consulted on until into the New Year. This comes despite previous assurances from the SNP Scottish Government that the plans for improvements would be in place by this autumn.
Baker has now tabled parliamentary questions calling for answers on this situation which is causing huge problems of congestion in the city. He is also calling on new options to be considered in light of the delay, including consultation on the potential for a flyover at the junction. The MSP has is also to write to Stewart Stevenson asking the Scottish Government what it can do to speed up the council’s consultation on options for improvements for the Haudagain where they announced won’t take place until the start of next year at the earliest.
Richard Baker said:
"The SNP promised action on the Haudagain nationally and locally and yet again all we actually have is delay in addressing this key cause of congestion. It is a cost to local commuters and businesses but all we seem to have is dithering from the Scottish Government and the council administration. The SNP/Liberal Democrat administration's transport plans are in tatters and it is people in Aberdeen who are paying the price with continued congestion at the Haudagain.
"We have also now learned that there is likely to be a need to consult on new options for improvements at the Haudagain. Surely it is now time for the leadership of the Council and the SNP ministers to accept that there should at least be consultation on the possibility of a flyover at the Haudagain. We need serious options for solving the problems at the Haudagain and quickly, but all we have had from the new leaders of the council and the new SNP Government is delay after delay.
"That is why I am looking for answers from the Scottish Government on when we can actually expect to see work on improvements finally begin and whether they will look at new options including a flyover. This should be a priority for the SNP but it doesn't seem that they addressing the problem with any sense of urgency."