Views

More hold-ups for transport schemes - for the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald

LAST time I wrote in the "Strathy", I anticipated that news on the future of the A9 should be a matter of days away.

We were told Transport Scotland – the arm of the Government which deals with national transport services and infrastructure – would report to Ministers during the summer just ended, and that they would present their timetable for funding major projects shortly thereafter.

So, we waited – as we have waited for firm plans ever since the elections last May.

But to no avail so far – for no sooner had my column been safely delivered to the "Strathy's" editor than Finance Secretary John Swinney went before the Scottish Parliament's transport committee to tell them the decision has been delayed. Summer has become autumn, and we are now told only that an announcement will be made before the end of the year.

The reason for the delay is not entirely clear. Mr Swinney could only observe that there are many projects to consider – but that hardly seems unforeseeable, and the review has been underway since 2006.

There have been many warm words from the SNP Government since it took office, but in terms of firm commitments all we have had is dither and delay.

That needs to change, because serious planning and design work must get underway if progress is going to be achieved at the pace that we need.

If, for instance, work to dual all or part of the long stretch from Crubenmore to Slochd is to get underway in 2012 at the absolute latest, if not rather sooner, preparations need to start now.

The road won't get any safer, and time is of the essence.

Averting a winter heating crisis

ONE issue which is even more time critical, is the ability of thousands of Highland households to pay sky high energy bills during the winter ahead.

The sad truth is that so-called 'excess' deaths occur every year, largely unnoticed, due to the effects of the cold. There is a real fear that the economic circumstances we face could increase that entirely avoidable toll significantly, especially if the weather also conspires against us.

Gordon Brown's recently unveiled action plan simply doesn't do enough to address the very imminent nature of the threat. Real support for energy conservation and insulation is long overdue, but it is plainly too late for that to help a large number of homes before the coming winter. It is unclear if those without cavity walls or accessible lofts will be able to benefit at all.

The ability of enhanced social tariffs to reach those most in need also remains to be seen – but at least the intention is the right one: immediate help with bills and a secure energy supply for the time when it is most needed.

One group of people who seem to have been forgotten in all this are the many thousands across the Highlands who rely on heating oil. Questions I tabled in parliament before the summer show that heating oil users are at least twice as likely as others to live in fuel poverty.

They also have to cope with minimum delivery policies – which can have the effect of 'disconnecting' households without any central organisation even being aware.

We need urgent action to help them this winter – and given the overlap in their responsibilities, it is something the UK and Scottish Governments must work together to achieve.

Make it happen

THIS week, the Conservatives hold their conference in Birmingham, concluding the annual ritual which sets the scene for the return of Parliament.

The Liberal Democrats met two weeks ago for our own lively internal debate. Having just spent some months preparing the basis for our next General Election campaign for consideration by the conference, I can confirm that – unlike the other parties – democracy at our gatherings is real and the outcome is far from assured until the votes are cast.

The Make it Happen document has core Liberal values at its heart – freedom, fairness and concern for our environment.

Importantly, it shows that by saving £20 billion from wasteful and unnecessary Government schemes like ID cards, we can give money back to the people who need it most at the moment – everyone on low and middle incomes who has felt the squeeze of steeply rising living costs.

As we approach the anniversary of Gordon Brown's disastrous 10 pence tax raid on low earners, that is an argument we must win.

Posted on: 01/10/2008