Aberdeenshire Tory councillors raise A90 concerns with the Transport Minister
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The Scottish Conservative councillors for the Wards around the A90 Ellon onwards have signed a letter to the Scottish Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop around improvements on the A90/A952 Ellon to Peterhead/Fraserburgh to make a plea for further improvements on the road and at both notorious junctions at Toll of Birness and Cortes.
For many years, councillor Gillian Owen has run the Why Stop at Ellon? campaign and whilst small mitigation measures have been installed at the Toll of Birness, that area remains a blackspot.
The updated baseline data, on the area suggests the problems identified in the previous appraisal provide a reasonable summary of the problems which are currently experienced in the study area.
Key themes include - unreliable and unpredictable journey times; road safety concerns, particularly at key junctions; inadequate diversionary routes; and limited public transport options.
The review of the updated baseline indicated there was no material change in the magnitude of the majority of the problems previously identified.
The most notable changes were a decrease in average speeds on the A90 southbound on approach to the Toll of Birness and the A90(T)/A948 junctions at Ellon in the AM peak, and an increase in heavy goods vehicles around the A90 Ellon bypass.
In addition, based on the available forecasts there is an increased level of uncertainty as to future traffic levels reflective of continuing changes in policy and other influential factors.
The previously identified problem impacts also continue to be valid, with the evidence review suggesting similar themes to those identified in the previous studies.
These include - impacts on existing industries and businesses, including the fishing industry in both Fraserburgh and Peterhead which is dependent on ‘just in time’ deliveries; difficulties attracting inward investment including in new and emerging industries because of the relative ‘remoteness’ of Peterhead and Fraserburgh; constraints on development due to the requirement for road upgrades; and social and economic exclusion due to poor transport connectivity; and associated impacts on regeneration priorities in the area.
The surveyed traffic flows and queue data generally shows 2023 conditions have almost returned to 2019 levels with a partial recovery in the AM and PM peak periods and a full return to 2019 levels in the interpeak.
The letter reads -
Dear Ms Hyslop
We the undersigned Councillors are writing to express our concern that another year has passed, and the road network north of Ellon to Peterhead and Fraserburgh still does not seem to be a priority for the Scottish Government. The A90 Ellon onwards and its interaction with A952, are notorious blackspots, the A90 has both the infamous Toll of Birness junction and the A952 has the equally infamous Cortes junction.
We would just like to point out some of the terrible statistics which we are sure you can verify for yourself but to give you a flavour: at Toll of Birness Collisions (13 at northern junction) of which7 x Injury Collisions 3 being KSI 2012 – 2022. The Cortes junction on the northern end of the A952 has the same number of collisions but more of these are injury (9 injury collisions of which 3 KSI).
In 2007 the then First Minister, Alex Salmond ‘promised that within 100 days of him being FM the spade would be in the ground to start the dualling to Peterhead.’ We realise that Mr Salmond made several promises where roads were concerned and very few of them have come to fruition.
The ‘Why Stop at Ellon? Campaign’ was set up to highlight these serious issues and in response to the campaign Alison Irvine from Transport Scotland with David Torrence came to visit this area in 2014. None of your predecessors have felt it worthy of a personal visit. The outcome of the visit made a number of points clear; it became apparent that the issue despite Mr Salmond’s promise, was on no agenda of the Scottish Government and the representatives were shocked to see the Toll of Birness junction which they confirmed was the only one of its type left in Scotland.
We as Councillors representing the Wards along the A90, A952 and the dangerous junctions of the Toll of Birness and cortes make a plea to you to take another look at road improvements to alleviate the dangers of driving in these areas.
This will also provide much needed benefits to the local economy we are a major fishing,
farming, and tourist area all of which would benefit from better connectivity. The north-east of Scotland has been the engine room of the Scottish economy, due to the benefits of the Oil Industry which is still a major employer in this region and will be for years to come. This industry has provided resources for Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom. The move towards renewables and developing sectors under the Just Transition is becoming key also in the north-east which will help maintain this area as Scotland’s engine room.
Businesses and residents in the area have long suffered the difficulties of an inadequate and dangerous road network. We have no rail network, and our roads are in dire need of upgrading for both capacity and safety reasons. The main issue with the A90 and A952 is they are single carriageway with considerable HGV usage and are no longer fit for purpose. They service two major ports Peterhead and Fraserburgh and the huge fishing and farming industry as well as the existing Oil industry and the new renewable industry. This is furthered with the prospective works at the Peterhead Power Station which is looking at expansion and developing its own Carbon Capture elements, the SSEN Transmission works to support the growth of renewables and the Acorn project at St Fergus, plus the exciting Fraserburgh Harbour Masterplan. All these projects will be significantly hampered with our poor infrastructure. It makes economic sense to upgrade the road network, to unlock the Northeast and remove the throttle on economic development for Scotland.
Yours sincerely
Councillors Gillian Owen and John Crawley, Ellon & District Ward.
Cllr Hannah Powell, Central Buchan Ward.
Cllr James Adams, Fraserburgh and District Ward.
Cllr Matthew James, Peterhead North and Rattray Ward.
