Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
A Public Local Inquiry will be held to hear objections to plans for an upgrade to a key section of the M8 motorway linking Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The M8 Baillieston to Newhouse seeks to upgrade the eight mile stretch of trunk road between Baillieston and Newhouse to full motorway standard, completing the M8 between Scotland’s two largest cities.
Transport Scotland has recently published the Draft Orders for the scheme and the holding of a Public Local Inquiry marks the latest milestone in the development of the project.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today confirmed the Public Local Inquiry will start on 1 July 2008.
He said:
"This is the latest milestone in the statutory process and a Public Local Inquiry is not uncommon on projects of this scale. We will continue to seek to resolve objections through negotiation until the start of the Inquiry.
"Local communities close to the upgraded section of the M8 will benefit from improved links to Scotland’s two biggest cities. The proposed route will ease congestion between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and improve safety on one of the country’s busiest routes."
The project, alongside schemes to complete the M74 and the section of the M80 between Stepps and Haggs, will complete Central Scotland’s motorway network.
The construction cost for the M8 upgrade project is estimated at £170 - £210 million and it is anticipated to be completed by 2012/2013, subject to the successful outcome of the statutory process.
For more information see M8 Baillieston to Newhouse
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
