The Scottish Government has been urged to “fast track” transport upgrade plans for the north-east amid fears they could take a decade to be realised.
Ministers said in January 2016 at the signing of the Aberdeen City Region Deal that £254million would be spent on infrastructure improvements for the region.
The projects earmarked for the cash include rail upgrades between the Granite City and the central belt, a long-awaited flyover at Laurencekirk junction, digital infrastructure projects and funding to unlock new housing sites.
But a year on, there has been no visible progress with the works and SNP ministers have admitted it could take 10 years for work to get under way.
Now the Scottish Conservatives have demanded the government prioritise the works in the north-east in a bid to get the projects completed more quickly.
Liam Kerr, Tory MSP for the region, said: “We all welcomed the announcement a year ago from the Scottish Government that it would invest in infrastructure in the north-east, and it was particularly welcome to hear the minister at the time talk about rail upgrades.
“However, we are now a year on and there is no sign that any progress has been made.
“Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said in its Holyrood election manifesto that improvements were ‘long overdue’ – and that was nine months ago.
“SNP ministers are very fond of headline grabbing announcements, but this one appears to have been cobbled together with no detail or timeline in place.”
Mr Kerr argued the investment was vital to the north-east economy, given the oil and gas industry downturn.
He added: “Passengers will be wondering why it may take a decade to deliver on a pretty unequivocal pledge that was made in January 2016.
“It seems the SNP were happy to take the credit for supporting the north-east economy at the time, but have just kicked this into the long grass since then.
“Given the ongoing downturn in the oil and gas sector, and the wider impact on the local economy, we need to see some urgency from the government on this.
“I am today calling on the SNP to fast-track these plans and secure these improvements as quickly as possible.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the Laurencekirk flyover would be completed as quickly as possible.
Aberdeen and the north-east remain “central” to “driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland”, he said.
The spokesman added: “The development of rail infrastructure options are on-going and includes consideration of opportunities to increase capacity on the single track section between Montrose and Usan.
“Our focus, however, remains firmly on maximising the benefits for rail passengers in Aberdeen.
“The timescales for delivery remain in line with previous commitments, with implementation from the next rail control period starting in 2019.”
