MCINNES ACCUSES SNP OF INCOMPETENCE OVER HANDLING OF AWPR

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Apr 2009

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson and MSP for the North East Alison McInnes has accused the Scottish Government of incompetence over their handling of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Challenged during General Question Time in the Scottish Parliament today (Thursday) about how the AWPR will be funded, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said that 'the funding mechanism for the AWPR is still to be determined'.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"Stewart Stevenson's response to this important question is completely unacceptable. It has revealed the SNP's incompetence on this key transport project for the North East.

"His constituents, and mine, would consider it a shameful betrayal if we reach the next election without a contract having ever been signed on this important transport project.

"It is looking increasingly likely that the SNP's floundering and delays over the AWPR means that we won't see a spade in the ground before 2011.

"Ministers must bring forward details on both the financing and timescale of this project in order to reassure people in the North East that the SNP are taking their commitment to this project seriously."