Government plans to scrap a £7 million scheme to shift freight from road to rail will make the A9 even more deadly, a local MP has warned.
The SNP Government’s package of savings includes plans to close the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) a scheme which has underpinned moves to get goods off congested roads to future bids.
Calls have long been made to reduce traffic volumes and single carriageway queues on the A9 by having fewer lorries using it.
Labour MP Gordon Banks said on Wednesday, “The A9 has a poor safety record and shifting as much freight from road to rail would improve safety and ease congestion on this section of road.”
Opposition parties, haulage associations and big business have all called on the government to rethink its plans.
Local firm Highland Spring said moves to base a rail terminal at Blackford off the A9 south of Perth and near its production plant could stall without grant aid.
In submissions on the matter it said taking some of its 10,000 lorry movements a year off the road makes environmental sense but the figures without the grant don’t stack up.
Its official response to the draft budget stated, “Highland Spring is therefore extremely concerned about the Scottish Government’s proposed scrapping of the FFG scheme.
“Unless a suitable replacement can be put in place or the FFG scheme remains, it is highly unlikely that a commercial case could be made for Highland Spring to proceed with our intention to construct a rail freight terminal at Blackford.”
Mr Banks said, “This move by the SNP to scrap this very useful grant is contrary to efforts we all want to see to get as much freight off the roads and on to rail as possible.
“Highland Spring in Blackford have been particularly proactive in trying to achieve this aim. The company will now be forced to continue to send 10,000 lorry loads of water by road instead of transferring to rail.”
Government support for the freight industry will fall from £10.3 million last year to £2.9 million in the coming year.