Minister offers more talk but no progress after bypass meeting - Munro, Alexander, Christie, Graham

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Jun 2009

Inverness Liberal Democrats today attended a meeting with the Scottish Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, to ask for urgent clarity over a funding mechanism and timescale to complete the city's long-awaited by-pass.

The SNP's failure to commit funding to the trunk link road - which will include a crossing of the River Ness and Caledonian Canal near Torvean, and connect the A82 with the A9 and the A96 - was the dominant issue in the Inverness West by-election which took place at the end of April.

The SNP's vote collapsed as a result, with local Lib Dem campaigner Alasdair Christie securing a 21% swing in his favour. Cllr Christie was joined today by ward colleague and Deputy Provost Alex Graham, local MSP John Farquhar Munro and MP Danny Alexander to deliver a clear message to the Minister.

Following the meeting this morning, in a joint statement the four said:

"We are grateful to the minister for taking the time to meet us this morning. We stated the strong case for the Scottish government to fund the full Inverness trunk link road.

"We are deeply disappointed by the minister's response. There was absolutely no commitment to any Scottish government funding for the road connecting the A9 and the A82.

"Whilst the government is willing to keep talking, without a willingness to make a substantial financial commitment from Edinburgh, it will simply not be possible to deliver this essential link.

"The government hides behind the flawed STPR process. But that has completely failed to recognise the enormous economic benefits of this link to Inverness and the Highlands. Supporting growth in and around Inverness should be seen as important to the whole of Scotland.

"This project is vital to the future of our City. We now need to step up our campaign to persuade ministers to change their minds. The current stance is simply unacceptable."

ENDS