A political spat has erupted after a councillor accused an MSP of “knowing nothing” when he asked for new surveys to be carried out over the dualling of a north-east road.
Conservative Councillor, Gillian Owen, who has run the ‘Why Stop at Ellon’ campaign group for many years and has argued for the A90 to be dualled beyond Ellon to Peterhead and Fraserburgh, has accused MSP Stewart Stevenson, SNP, of “making comments without really knowing what’s going on”.
At the end of February, Mr Stevenson wrote to Transport Scotland asking for a new traffic survey to be carried out on the road.
But Mrs Owen felt that asking for further information was only hindering the work they have already done and claims immediate action is needed.
She said: “In the last few months, it has been encouraging to note the number of MSPs entering the debate over the future of the A90 Ellon onwards, but it’s disappointing that there seems to be a considerable lack of knowledge in some of the reports.
“The latest contribution by Mr Stevenson is a clear example.
“He fails to understand that the survey work has already been completed and he should have been aware that to undertake further surveys will only slow down the case that has already been built up.
“As a former Minister for Transport, I would have thought he would understand the process that has been followed.
“Nestrans has done all of that and I get frustrated as we’ve worked so hard to address and promote it that what we need to do now is get some action.
“If we all pulled together that would be the best thing to get progress with the road.”
But Mr Stevenson claimed this should have been a conversation held privately.
He said: “These are extremely disappointing comments from Councillor Owen, who has chosen to launch a political attack under the guise of asking people to ‘pull together’.
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“My approach to Transport Scotland appears to have been well-received by the local campaign, Dual Peterhead, who have put it on their website along with a cross-party selection of testimonials.
“In their short time in existence, Dual Peterhead have done a power of work and have done so on a non-political, cross-party basis and they are to be commended for that.
“If Councillor Owen genuinely believed that having new information which I fully expect will further support the case for upgrading the A90 would be unhelpful, she could have had that conversation with me directly, rather than seeking publicity in the newspapers.”
