Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP is set to announce millions of pounds for West of Scotland transport links and extra funding to explore upgrades to the A75.
The extra cash for the Dumfries and Galloway road comes after the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged £5 million towards a feasibility study for the road, which stretches from Gretna to Stranraer, in November 2022, says the Herald Scotland.
During a visit to Paisley the Chancellor will announce £66 million of investment in Scottish transport to help workers access jobs in “high growth sectors” as part of the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.
The £66 million will help fund three Scottish transport schemes which are expected to create direct links between towns and economic hubs in the West of Scotland.
This is alongside further funding of four investment zones and five advanced manufacturing sites from the Forth Green Freeport to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.
Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7 million to link [[Paisley]] town centre with Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and new walking, cycling, bus and car links will be built.
Another £23.7 million will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714. This upgrade seeks to create a faster route between the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, and cut traffic in Kilwinning.
Speaking ahead of her visit, Reeves said:
“We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for. Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.”
The Scottish Government is also expected to receive £3.45 million from the UK Government to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.
The key road, which links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK, is vital to UK connectivity and growing the economy.
(Pic: Mapillary)
