Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
A £27 million investment in three vital road improvement projects is set to bring benefits to road users across the South West this Christmas, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said today.
Two of these projects - on the A77 at Glen App and Haggstone - have finished three months ahead of schedule, and a third project, an upgrade of the A76 near Glenairlie due to be finished in late December, will provide additional overtaking opportunities.
Meanwhile, the de-trunked section of the existing A76 is being converted to a cycleway and finishing works should be complete by the end of January. All three schemes will open up economic opportunities by improving journey times and connections across Dumfries and Galloway. The investment will also bring faster, more efficient access to the important ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"I am delighted that this important work on the A76 and A77 is complete.
"The routes provide economic lifelines, linking central Scotland to Dumfries and Galloway whilst providing vital access to the ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer. To see the work on the A77 being completed so far ahead of schedule is particularly pleasing.
"This £27 million investment will bring improved connections for local communities, businesses, freight and tourists. The efficiency we have seen in the delivery of the scheme shows just how the collaborative approach adopted by Transport Scotland and contractors RJ McLeod and Raynesway can bring real benefits.
"This is more good news for the region following the announcement of our Strategic Transport Projects (STPR) review last week – a review which is at the leading edge of transport planning. This Government has set out our future transport ambitions for Scotland over the next 20 years and made clear that our investment priorities for the South West include vital upgrades to the A75, A76 and A77, dualling of the A77 around Ayr and a new Dalry bypass."
The work at Glen App has delivered just under a mile of new carriageway and was carried out in conjunction with a carriageway widening project at Haggstone, two and a half miles north of the Cairnryan ferry terminal. Both projects were carried out by RJ McLeod.
The A76 Glenairlie project, managed by Raynesway Construction, involved widening just under two miles of carriageway to provide improved overtaking opportunities to both directions of travel.
Meanwhile, another A77 improvement scheme continues to progress as the consultation on the £11 million Symington to Bogend toll project has come to a close. Transport Scotland has received a number of statutory objections for this scheme and, while it will continue to work with objectors to resolve these, it is likely a Public Local Enquiry (PLI) will be held in the new year.
A PLI is always anticipated for a scheme of this significance and the statutory process has already been factored in to the project programme. Work is expected to begin in 2010 with the construction phase lasting approximately 12 months.
For further details see:
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
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22 December 2008
19 December 2008
Construction companies to bid for A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass
A multi-million pound road improvement scheme for the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness has taken an important step closer to delivery.
Transport Scotland has published the tenders for the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass marking the start of the procurement process for this upgrade to a crucial link for businesses and communities in the North East.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"The A96 is a key route for Scotland and this multi-million investment will deliver real benefits for communities across the North East. It will improve journey times, reduce congestion in and around Fochabers and Mosstodloch, whilst making an important contribution to road safety.
"This gives a welcome boost to the construction industry and is more good news following the announcement of our Strategic Transport Projects (STPR) review last week. The STPR identified our investment priorities for the north east, including dualling of the A9, key improvements to the A96 and vital enhancements to rail services across the region."
Two companies, RJ McLeod and Morrison Construction , have been identified in the pre-qualification stage and they now have 26 weeks to submit their tender.
On successful completion of the tender process, Transport Scotland expects to appoint a contractor in late summer 2009. Construction work will begin soon after and the scheme will be open in spring 2011. Meanwhile site clearance works will get underway early in the new year.
This stage follows the ground investigations carried out by contractor Ritchies in summer this year on behalf of national transport agency Transport Scotland.
For further information see A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass project
Transport Scotland has published the tenders for the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass marking the start of the procurement process for this upgrade to a crucial link for businesses and communities in the North East.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"The A96 is a key route for Scotland and this multi-million investment will deliver real benefits for communities across the North East. It will improve journey times, reduce congestion in and around Fochabers and Mosstodloch, whilst making an important contribution to road safety.
"This gives a welcome boost to the construction industry and is more good news following the announcement of our Strategic Transport Projects (STPR) review last week. The STPR identified our investment priorities for the north east, including dualling of the A9, key improvements to the A96 and vital enhancements to rail services across the region."
Two companies, RJ McLeod and Morrison Construction , have been identified in the pre-qualification stage and they now have 26 weeks to submit their tender.
On successful completion of the tender process, Transport Scotland expects to appoint a contractor in late summer 2009. Construction work will begin soon after and the scheme will be open in spring 2011. Meanwhile site clearance works will get underway early in the new year.
This stage follows the ground investigations carried out by contractor Ritchies in summer this year on behalf of national transport agency Transport Scotland.
For further information see A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass project
Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS)
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson today announced the appointment of a Convener and six new Members to the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS).
The new convener is:
Anne MacLean is currently the Vice Chair of RNIB Scotland and is a board member of the Cairngorm National Park Authority, which attracts an annual rate of £6,936. She was previously an assessor for the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments in Scotland, and was a former National Officer with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants.
The new members are:
John Ballantine is a retired solicitor and member of the Equalities Law Sub-committee of the Law Society of Scotland. He is the Treasurer of the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance and a member of the Edinburgh Access Panel. He is a member of the Communities of Interest Support Network and of the Edinburgh Disability Equality Forum. These posts do not attract remuneration.
Steven Boyd has recently taken up an appointment as HR Partner for Scotland for the WRVS. He previously held various HR & Resourcing Management appointments for different blue chip Hospitality, Media and Engineering companies. His initial management career was as Recruitment Director for a small niche People Consultancy.
James Cohen currently works as a Social Policy Analyst specialising in disability. He is a Member of the BBC Trust Audience Council Scotland, and was previously Queen Margaret University's Equal Opportunities Officer as well as being a former Member of the NUS Disability Campaign
James Glover is Head of Equality and Diversity at NHS Lothian. He led on the Disability Equality Duty at the Equality & Human Rights Commission, and its predecessor, the Disability Rights Commission. He has set up and been a committee member for community transport projects and organisations. He originally trained as a research chemist.
Andrew Holmes trained and worked as a civil engineer before becoming involved in the wider area of planning, economic development and transport. Prior to retiring in April 2008 he was Director of City Development for the City of Edinburgh Council. He has served on a number of transport related groups and committees at both a Scottish and UK level.
Susan Wood was previously employed as an Educational Development and Support Officer improving quality in pre-school education in Argyll and Bute. She is Chairperson of the Glasgow Access Panel.
These appointments will be for three years and will run from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011.
The posts are part-time. The post of Convener attracts remuneration of £150 per day for a time commitment of two days per month. The Member posts attract remuneration of £100 per day for a time commitment of one day per month,
None of the newly appointed members currently hold appointments with other Public Bodies.
MACS was established by Scottish Ministers under the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Regulations Order 2002. It is responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on the transport needs of people with disabilities in Scotland. It shall consider and make recommendations about other matters if asked to do so. MACS will, for the main part, hold its meetings in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Government will be undertaking a further appointment round in the New Year to fill the eight remaining member posts.
These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
Anne MacLean has declared that she was an executive committee member of the Scottish Labour Party until March 2004, and is currently the Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Branch of the Party.
The new convener is:
Anne MacLean is currently the Vice Chair of RNIB Scotland and is a board member of the Cairngorm National Park Authority, which attracts an annual rate of £6,936. She was previously an assessor for the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments in Scotland, and was a former National Officer with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants.
The new members are:
John Ballantine is a retired solicitor and member of the Equalities Law Sub-committee of the Law Society of Scotland. He is the Treasurer of the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance and a member of the Edinburgh Access Panel. He is a member of the Communities of Interest Support Network and of the Edinburgh Disability Equality Forum. These posts do not attract remuneration.
Steven Boyd has recently taken up an appointment as HR Partner for Scotland for the WRVS. He previously held various HR & Resourcing Management appointments for different blue chip Hospitality, Media and Engineering companies. His initial management career was as Recruitment Director for a small niche People Consultancy.
James Cohen currently works as a Social Policy Analyst specialising in disability. He is a Member of the BBC Trust Audience Council Scotland, and was previously Queen Margaret University's Equal Opportunities Officer as well as being a former Member of the NUS Disability Campaign
James Glover is Head of Equality and Diversity at NHS Lothian. He led on the Disability Equality Duty at the Equality & Human Rights Commission, and its predecessor, the Disability Rights Commission. He has set up and been a committee member for community transport projects and organisations. He originally trained as a research chemist.
Andrew Holmes trained and worked as a civil engineer before becoming involved in the wider area of planning, economic development and transport. Prior to retiring in April 2008 he was Director of City Development for the City of Edinburgh Council. He has served on a number of transport related groups and committees at both a Scottish and UK level.
Susan Wood was previously employed as an Educational Development and Support Officer improving quality in pre-school education in Argyll and Bute. She is Chairperson of the Glasgow Access Panel.
These appointments will be for three years and will run from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011.
The posts are part-time. The post of Convener attracts remuneration of £150 per day for a time commitment of two days per month. The Member posts attract remuneration of £100 per day for a time commitment of one day per month,
None of the newly appointed members currently hold appointments with other Public Bodies.
MACS was established by Scottish Ministers under the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Regulations Order 2002. It is responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on the transport needs of people with disabilities in Scotland. It shall consider and make recommendations about other matters if asked to do so. MACS will, for the main part, hold its meetings in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Government will be undertaking a further appointment round in the New Year to fill the eight remaining member posts.
These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
Anne MacLean has declared that she was an executive committee member of the Scottish Labour Party until March 2004, and is currently the Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Branch of the Party.
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