Question reference: S5W-30186
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 23 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timetable for work on Laurencekirk South junction, in light of reports by Transport Scotland that it has been further delayed.
Answer
A major milestone in delivering the Laurencekirk Junction Improvement was reached on 19 December 2019 when draft Orders for the scheme were published. In response to the publication of draft Orders Transport Scotland received four statutory objections to the proposed scheme.
As with all trunk road schemes, it is only right that those affected have an opportunity to express their views and this is a statutory obligation that cannot be ignored or simply swept aside. Accordingly effective engagement with affected parties is something that Transport Scotland takes very seriously.
Transport Scotland is currently negotiating with objectors to try and resolve objections where possible. However, should Transport Scotland be unsuccessful in removing all objections a public local inquiry may be required. As with all trunk road projects this is the statutory forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn.
As confirmed in my answer to question S5W-26809 on 8 January 2020, progress of the scheme is dependent on the public reaction to the published draft Orders and whether a public local inquiry is required to consider objections received and not withdrawn. Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence when the scheme is approved under the statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .