Maybole bypass project is still in the pipeline

Feb 6 2009

MAYBOLE will get a bypass – when the Scottish Government has the cash.

Claims that the project had been dumped by ministers were dismissed this week after community councillors discovered information on the plan on a government website.

Community councillors made the find after weeks of researching Scotland’s Transport Strategy.

And the good news for South Ayrshire doesn’t end there – for the document also proposes a bypass for Girvan.

The news has been welcomed by long time bypass campaigner Peter Mason, who is the chairman of Maybole Community Council.

He said: “I welcome the fact that we have at last found a bypass for Maybole mentioned in the report – that really is good news.

“I am disappointed, however, “that there is no mention of a date for starting it.

“We have had the need established, we have had the route decided; all we require is the political good will to make a bypass a reality.”

The bypasses are discussed in a obscure appendix to the document, which it is understood took even government ministers weeks to locate.

However, it is a huge step forward for the project, which has been a dream of campaigners for decades.

The SNP’s Adam Ingram however challenged Labour MSP Cathy Jamieson to pressure her party colleagues at Westminster to free the Scottish Government from funding restrictions to raise extra cash.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson insisted the Maybole bypass and all other work will be considered as funds become available.

Mr Ingram said: “The question that people want answered is when will we see the work commence? That is impossible to answer at the moment.

“One of the major problems we face is that the Scottish Government has no borrowing powers, so that all capital funding has to come out of the block grant provided by Westminster.”

Mr Ingram explained: “Westminster also defines the rules on how that capital can be drawn down to pay for projects.

“That means, for example, that the Scottish Government’s commitment to build a new Forth Road crossing, to be operational by 2016, must be bought and paid for in the three years prior to its opening.

“The near £2000m cost of that project means that very few other projects can be afforded or progressed over that period.”