I do not know how we will pay for bypass, says minister
stevenson blames delay on public inquiry as snp accused of incompetence
By Cameron Brooks
Published: 01/05/2009
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson admitted yesterday that he had no idea how the government was going to pay for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
He told MSPs at Holyrood that the funding mechanism for the bypass, which has been the subject of a lengthy inquiry, had "still to be determined".
The cost has been estimated at between £295million and £395million, with 2012 pencilled in as the completion date.
On Wednesday, Aberdeen North SNP MSP Brian Adam said he believed the road could be delivered cheaper and earlier because of the global recession.
Labour MSP Richard Baker said: "I am puzzled that when local SNP members say they hope the route will be delivered more cheaply and more speedily the transport minister can still not tell us how it will be funded.
"We have been asking this question for two years and we are still waiting for an answer."
Mr Stevenson told MSPs the government appreciated how important the 28-mile road was to the north-east but they had to await the outcome of the local public inquiry, which was expected this summer.
Responding to a question from Mr Baker about whether the government would fund the bypass with public funds through the Scottish Futures Trust, Mr Stevenson said the Public-Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative approach to raising funds for projects had been discredited. He said that 100 projects in England had been stalled because of an inability to raise funds by this method.
Mr Stevenson echoed Mr Adam's comments and said a reduction in the cost of steel and cement and the increased market competition meant there was "every opportunity" to get the best possible deal for the public pound on the project.
Mr Baker said it was vital that the government outlined to parliament as soon as possible how the bypass would be paid for. "It is time for the SNP to get out the go-slow lane," he added.
The proposed route leaves the Stonehaven-Aberdeen stretch of the A90 at Charleston, crosses the River Dee at Milltimber, loops west of Kingswells and rejoins the Aberdeen-Peterhead leg of the A90 at Blackdog, to the north of the city.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Alison McInnes accused the government of "incompetence".
"It is looking increasingly likely that the SNP's floundering and delays over the AWPR means that we won't see a spade in the ground before 2011," she said.
"Ministers must bring forward details on both the financing and timescale of this project to reassure people in the north-east that the SNP are taking their commitment to this project seriously."