It’s being claimed the promise to dual the A96 by 2030 was quietly dropped more than three years ago – even though officially the deadline hasn’t been dropped at all.

The Northern Scot Newspaper in an exclusive report says it’s seen emails which show then-Transport Secretary Michael Matheson MSP, civil servants and Transport Scotland officials agreeing to remove the pledge from a report in November 2020.

It says that after the change was agreed, officials worried about “communication of these issues” and stressed the need to organise a “handling plan” with Mr Matheson.

Having seen emails thanks to freedom of information requests, the newspaper says partly-redacted emails also show that a UK Government funding cut influenced the deadline’s quiet ditching.

(Picture – Mapillary)