Readers' Letters: Transport infrastructure at a standstill

With the SNP having seemingly abandoned any pretence of upgrading to dual carriageway the A9 between Inverness and Perth by 2025 and the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030 it seems an appropriate time to compare the records of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon vis a vis improving Scotland’s transport infrastructure.

The Queensferry Crossing was commissioned on Alex Salmond's watch

Alex Salmond became Scotland’s First Minister in May 2008, a post he held until November 2014. In that time contracts were awarded to deliver the following huge infrastructure projects: The M74 extension through Glasgow’s south side; the completion of the M80; the completion of the M8; the Queensferry Crossing; the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road; and the Borders Railway. Most fair-minded observers would agree that these projects have greatly improved Scotland’s transport infrastructure.

By comparison, since Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in November 2014, hardly any large transport infrastructure projects have been started. Indeed, when it comes to transport spending, she will be more associated with the fiasco of the two Cal Mac ferries which are years late and will come in at over twice the original cost.

Whatever one thinks of Scottish independence it seems that when it came to improving Scotland’s transport infrastructure, Mr Salmond at least displayed some ambition. Ms Sturgeon, by contrast, gives the impression that, other than proposing more cycle and bus lanes, she is content with what we have.

It might be thought with regard to improving Scotland’s transport infrastructure that Mr Salmond not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. Ms Sturgeon might be good at talking the talk, at indulging in gesture politics, but, in contrast to her predecessor, she has little or no positive legacy to leave when it comes to improving Scotland’s transport infrastructure. And that despite her government having a far higher budget available to them than Mr Salmond ever had.

Politicians will ultimately be judged on what they have delivered. Love him or loathe him, Mr Salmond’s administration, certainly in terms of improving Scotland’s transport infrastructure, delivered far more for the people of Scotland than Ms Sturgeon’s administration.

George Shanks, Orwell Place, Edinburgh

Lorry logic

At the moment the majority of people who enter Scotland are lorry drivers. They will be coming from the Continent or our own drivers returning from the Continent. All have the same risk of passing on any variant as they will have mixed with “locals”. So to keep everyone safe the SNP government will have to make sure all these drivers isolate in hotels after they cross the border. Otherwise they will be open to being accused of discrimination by only targeting those who come into the country in planes

Elizabeth Hands, Etna Court, Armadale

Covid consistency

Nicola Sturgeon tells us that she intends to continue with her daily Covid briefings during the forthcoming election campaign. It is clear that they have boosted her image, which has spilled over into support for the SNP – you can bet your bottom dollar she will want to continue the briefings.

Two points on this; firstly, this is an unfair electoral advantage, hence should be stopped.

Secondly, if there is a need for briefings, then the pandemic must be continuing, hence if so, the election should be postponed!

William Ballantine, Dean Road, Bo'ness, West Lothian

Hitting targets

On February 11 the following statistics relating to the vaccination programme were released. 1,048,747 people had received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. That overall figure included 99.9 per cent of residents in older adult care homes and 94 per cent of residents in all care homes; 90 per cent of staff in older care and 78 per cent of staff in all care homes; 278,175 frontline health and social care workers; 97 per cent of over-80s; 87 per cent of 75-79s; 54 per cent of 70-74s, with this group scheduled for completion by mid-February.On Wednesday, despite appalling weather conditions, a record number 63,178 vaccinations were delivered – a tribute to the dedication of the vaccination staff and the tenacity of those seeking vaccination. And yet we read from Colin Hamilton (Letters, yesterday) that there "has been a failure to deliver vaccine targets". How all those responsible for delivering what has been described as a heroic performance must weep to read such woefully ill-informed comments.

Gill Turner, Derby Street, Edinburgh

Farmed out

Further to previous letters on the Scottish Government’s runaway policy on land-based wind farms, the SNP says it is “committed to supporting our communities to do things for themselves, and to make their voices heard in the planning and delivery of services.”What a load of hogwash, when it comes to the approval of wind farms, community engagement and local democracy fly out of the window in favour of the headlong rush for so-called "green” energy.Renewable energy is an admirable thing and necessary for the survival of our planet – but in the right place and not ruining the beautiful and dramatic landscape for which Scotland is famed worldwide.I live in Dumfries and Galloway where, at the last count, there are more than 30 wind farms – either operational, under construction or consented – comprising some 650 turbines. In my area, the Glenkens, our community council’s latest minutes included 16 further developments that are under consideration.This isn’t a case of Nimby-ism as our tiny parish is already hosting six wind farms.When I wrote to Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, to halt or at least slow down the onslaught of wind farm applications because of the Coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings and council meetings and poor broadband connectivity in our rural area – making effective local consultation very difficult, if not impossible – he passed my concern onto an unelected, unaccountable civil servant. The response? “Suspending the consideration and determination of applications made under the Electricity Act could cause delays to necessary developments and infrastructure provision. The backlog of proposals and derailment of projects could add significantly to the economic dislocation caused by Covid-19.”So I asked a local SNP politician, in the run-up to the Holyrood elections, whether they would be prepared to stand up in Parliament and fight our corner over the onslaught of wind farm applications. I was told my request had been forwarded to the Scottish Government for a response (no doubt from another civil servant). Are individual elected representatives not allowed to offer their own opinions? Are the SNP acting as the ‘thought police’ when it comes to wind farms?It would appear that wind farm companies have a virtual free run in getting their schemes approved with very little consultation and, apparently, very little concern from our SNP politicians. Surely this is not the kind of community support the Scottish Government says it is committed to!Nigel Martin, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas

Renew interest

I read yesterday’s article about Denmark’s plans to build an “energy island” off their coast to supply up to 10 GWatt of electricity. It is a world first. Meanwhile, back here in Scotland – the “Saudi Arabia of Renewables” – we are closing our wind turbine fabrication capacity and making jobs in China, UAE and Indonesia. Something tells me that having a government merely focused on power, independence and everything anti-English will lose us that renewables tag, not that we ever had it in the first place. Is this not the sort of initiative that really could put us up there? Facta non verba, as they used to say.

Ken Currie, Liberton Drive, Edinburgh

New thinking

With reference to Wednesday’s Leader column (“Job Advert provides an open goal for SNP”), I am guessing the fourth senior job available within the Cabinet Office's "Union Directorate" is for an applicant relevant to an English Parliament.

It certainly would be marvellous if this were one of the “new ideas and perspectives” being sought. That would be an essential first step towards the establishment of a Federal United Kingdom!

Margot Kerr, Drummond Place, Inverness

Ifs and buts

Jackie Baillie: "Can the first minister let us know if she will resign if found to have breached the ministerial code.?"

Nicola Sturgeon: "I am not prepared to answer a hypothetical question."

Mike Russell: “If we win a majority in the May election we will deem that a mandate to proceed with another referendum."

It seems that hypothetical situations can be addressed when it suits.

James Callachan, Bells Burn Avenue, Linlithgow

Rugby role models

I agree with Richard Allison (Letters, February 10) and several of your social media correspondents (February 9) that the Scotland rugby players should be free to exercise their democratic rights in choosing whether to "take the knee" in protest against racism. Nonetheless, I am disappointed that only four chose to do so.

In Tuesday's Scotsman, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was quoted as saying "we obviously stand up against any racism and discrimination in our sport". How is it obvious? Surely the point of a sportsperson "taking the knee" is to make it obvious that they support anti-racism and by doing so, international sportsmen and women can send a powerful message, particularly to younger people who look up to them as role models.

Kenny Johnston, Allan Garden, Fearn, Ross-shire

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