John Cooper – Conservative MP for Dumfries & Galloway – and Elaine Stewart – Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock – wrote a joint letter to Miss Hyslop seeking a meeting to discuss the road.
‘Disappointingly, she has declined, saying that as transport is devolved to Holyrood, it would be “inappropriate” to meet,’ said Mr Cooper.
‘It’s ridiculous to claim the devolution settlement means she cannot meet us. As MPs, we can raise any issue our constituents may have – and the terrible state of the A77 is an issue for thousands of people.
‘It strikes me that Miss Hyslop is running scared of legitimate criticism and is using the Westminster / Holyrood divide as a shield,’ Mr Cooper added.
‘A joint letter reaches across party-political lines and is a reflection of how worried people are about the A77.
‘It’s laughable too that an SNP politician is pointing to the devolution deal as though it stops her talking to MPs. Plenty of her Nationalist colleagues are more than happy to talk about things that are reserved to Westminster when it suits them.’
The joint letter raised the specific issue of the temporary lights in Glen App at Carlock Wall, just north of the key ferry terminals in Cairnryan.
‘These lights have been in place for years, following previous years of the road being down to a single lane for landslip works.
‘It is claimed works are ongoing on the hillside above the road, but it all seems to be progressing at a snail’s pace and, rather than dodging meetings, Miss Hyslop should be getting a grip and lighting a fire under her department to get this critical road sorted,’ said Mr Cooper.
‘I travel both the A77 and the A75 frequently, and I know the very many constituents who contact me about both roads are worried about a lack of action on safety and environmental grounds.’
He said: ‘First Minister John Swinney has belatedly visited the east end of the A75 and declared he now “clearly understands” the depth of concern. Talk about underwhelming!
‘Now Fiona Hyslop is making soothing noises about commitments to invest in the A77, with no concrete proposals. She talks about improvements going back almost 20 years and about “the £134 million that has been spent to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the route”.
‘I have written back, asking her to reconsider her decision on a meeting, and seeking conformation that £134m is just the maintenance budget.
‘It would be alarming indeed if the Scottish Government is trying to claim basic upkeep of a road vital to so many in the south-west is some sort of upgrade.’
