Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross has written to Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop ahead of the 2026-27 Budget, saying January’s announcement could be the difference between life or death on the A96 in Aberdeenshire.

In her letter, Ms Cross has also urged the Scottish Government to commit to a new bypass for Inverurie after Transport Scotland recommended for improvements to the town’s road network to be dropped earlier this year, says Aberdeen Live.

Uncertainty is growing over whether the SNP government will stick to its 2011 promise to fully dual the A96 after John Swinney previously said plans will be “influenced” by how much money is in the UK budget, announced last month.

The Scottish Conservatives held a debate in Holyrood to urge SNP ministers to make progress on upgrading key roads such as the A96.

They urged the SNP to adopt Scottish Conservative plans to pass an emergency law to fast-track the dualling of roads by the end of the next parliament, by expediting environmental impact assessments and working with private companies.

Ms Cross said:

“The upcoming Scottish Budget could be the difference between life or death on the A96. Fiona Hyslop has a month to visit the A96 to see for herself the tragic reality of the dangers this road possesses before her government’s Budget announcement.”

(Picture: Mapillary)