TRANSPORT MINISTER ADMITS £30K GAFFE ON NORTH EAST ROAD SIGN - MCINNES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th Oct 2009

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has

accused the Transport Minister of not being in control of his

own department after receiving a letter from the Minister

admitting that he made a £30,000 gaffe over the location of a

road sign at West Pitmillan.

The Transport Minister has written to Mrs McInnes conceding

that the controversial variable message (VM) sign at West

Pitmillan in the North East will have to be relocated at a cost

to the taxpayer of £30,000 when the dual carriageway between

Balmedie and Tipperty is built.

Mrs McInnes initially raised concerns that on a stretch of road

with no major structures, this sign will simply provide local

transport information and will eventually have to be relocated,

representing a huge cost for little benefit.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"In this letter Stewart Stevenson admits that he made a £30,000

gaffe on the West Pitmillan road sign.

"The Transport Minister signed off on the installation of this

VM sign at a cost of £135,000. Now he has confirmed that it

will have to be relocated when the dual carriageway between

Balmedie and Tipperty is built.

"This is an unacceptable case of the left hand not knowing what

the right hand is doing. It is further proof of Stewart

Stevenson's incompetence.

"Stewart Stevenson should learn from this mistake and get a

grip of his department."

Ends.