Transport minister Keith Brown has refused to meet campaigners calling for an upgrade to the A92 in Fife.
In a letter to Glenrothes Area Futures Group (GAFG), Mr Brown said there was no need for face-to-face discussions given Transport Scotland’s long-awaited report concluded that no action should be taken to improve the route north of the town.
The group yesterday expressed disappointment but pledged to continue its campaign for improvements to the accident blackspot.
Ron Page from GAFG said members would also keep pressing for a meeting with Mr Brown and with the convener of the Scottish Parliament’s petitions committee to discuss the 3000-signature petition presented in 2008.
Residents and politicians have long campaigned for improvements to the main trunk route through Fife, which last year saw four fatal accidents, three of which occurred on the stretch north of the town.
Hopes were raised when Transport Scotland announced it was carrying out a detailed study at Balfarg and Cadham junctions.
However, the conclusion was seen as a bitter blow.
It said the provision of a roundabout at Balfarg junction would have benefits for safety at the expense of some delays to traffic and cost to the environment, while traffic lights at Cadham would reduce the risk of serious injury but also create delays.
Five criteria set out in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance were used in the study the environment, safety, economy, integration and accessibility.
The conclusion was that improvements would bring safety benefits, but not produce dividends against the other criteria.
Mr Page said, “I wrote to Keith Brown asking for a meeting but, unfortunately, the reply from his assistant says no, there’s no need for one because of the STAG report decision recommending no action.Disappointed”I’m very disappointed, but obviously the futures group will reply to that, making it clear we still want a meeting with him and we will also write to the convener of the petitions committee.
“I reckon he has not really read my letter properly because my letter said the STAG criteria would immediately kill any improvements on any trunk road in Scotland.
“If the Scottish Government really wanted to do something they would change the criteria from accidents to safety. That’s what we’re really asking for.”
He added, “We are not back to square one. Our intention is to go back to the terms of the petition which called for improvements not only at Balfarg and Cadham junction, but at five identified hazards.”
Mr Page claimed the stretch between Preston roundabout was “fraught with danger” as it was a single carriageway and traffic was increasing.
“Once Tullis Russell’s biomass project is up and running, 90 lorries per day will be using that stretch,” he said.
Lindsay Roy MP has also written to Keith Brown, calling for an urgent review of the study.
He said, “When I first looked at the findings, my reaction was one of disbelief and I shared the incredulity expressed by many organisations and individuals.
“I have had the chance to study the appraisal in considerable detail and my opinion hasn’t changed one little bit.
“How can safety-and presumably that includes the possibility of people being killed or badly hurt-be given the same emphasis as other criteria? It just does not make sense.
“According to the study, it would cost less than £3m to construct a roundabout at Balfarg and install traffic lights at Cadham: surely a small price to pay for fewer deaths and serious injuries?
“Yes, the measures might lead to increased delays at certain times but, again, surely this must be worthwhile if it saves just one life or one person being badly hurt.”