Scottish Conservatives have called on the SNP Scottish Government to explain why North East taxpayers will be asked to pay towards the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) when other key transport infrastructure projects will be funded by the SNP Scottish Government’s budget. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is seen as a key national transport infrastructure project alongside the Forth Replacement Crossing, dualling of the A9 between Perth – Inverness, and M8, M73, and M74 Motorway Improvements.
The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will be funded jointly by the Scottish Government (81%), Aberdeen City Council (9.5%) and Aberdeenshire Council (9.5%). In the most recent statement SNP Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP, has estimated that building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) together with the Balmedie to Tipperty project would cost £900m, including VAT.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“Questions need to be asked as to why the First Minster and the SNP Scottish Government are demanding Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils pay 19% towards of the costs of the construction of the AWPR at the same time as Councils across Scotland, which will see similar key national transport infrastructure projects within their own areas, are not being asked for a penny.
“The fact that every other key national transport infrastructure project will be fully funded through the SNP Scottish Government’s capital budgets begs the question why the North East is being made to pay.
“Aberdeen and the North East is the engine of the Scottish economy and this project is of national importance, something which has been recognised by the SNP Scottish Government and the First Minster but which has been overlooked when considering how to fund the project.
“Under the SNP, the North East Councils have received the lowest level of funding per head of population and with extremely tight budgets, North East Councils are being asked to find millions of pounds to help fund the road when other Councils are not being asked for a penny. It is unfair and screams of central belt bias by SNP Ministers.
“Scottish Conservatives have been successful in delivering a fairer level of funding for North East Councils but it would seem that the SNP are short changing North East taxpayers again and looking to use North East Councils as cash cows.
“I have written to the First Minister to ask for him to explain to North East taxpayers why they are the only ones being asked to pay towards the construction costs of a key national transport infrastructure project and called on the First Minster to review the funding which is being sought from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.
“If the First Minister and the SNP Scottish Government are not willing to review the funding mechanism then I hope that the Scottish Government will place a capped ceiling pegged to current estimated costs to prevent North East Councils being faced with having to find significant additional money to meet any increased costs.”