Rhoda Grant

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has said she is extremely disappointed with the meeting held yesterday (23.11.22) to discuss progressing the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness, saying that the meeting was not about the dualling at all but was instead about looking at ways of mitigating the number of accidents that are currently happening on the single carriageway sections of the road.

The Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, along with Police Scotland and transport officials met with MSPs to discuss the issue after Mrs Grant had called for a meeting about the number of fatalities over recent months and the timescales for improving the road layout.

Commenting after the meeting, Rhoda Grant said “The Minister discussed using improved lining technology and increasing signage to remind drivers when they are on single carriageway sections while Police Scotland shared their view that driver fatigue was often to blame, coupled with foreign drivers not knowing the road.

“This is all well and good but it doesn’t take us any further forward on when the much needed dualling will progress. The Minister advised that the costs have increased and said it is still the Scottish Government’s aim to dual the whole road but she’s given absolutely no indication of when any of this might progress.

Mrs Grant concluded “It is simply not good enough. The deadline of 2025 is becoming more unachievable day on day but I will continue to do everything within my power to keep the pressure on the Government to get this road upgraded to the standard that it should be. We owe this to the thousands of motorists who use the road daily and to the families who have lost loved ones in such tragic circumstances.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed the announcement that traffic will no longer be able to turn right onto the A9 northbound when exiting from the B9161 at Munlochy junction.

The MSP has been pressing for improvements in this area and is pleased that this further safety measure is being introduced, following the street lighting being installed at the junction earlier this year.

Rhoda Grant said “The community has been pushing for improvements at the junction for years now and it is good to see some of this now coming to fruition.

“These small improvements being implemented will go some way to improving the situation while the longer term solutions continue to be looked into.”

She concluded “I will continue to have dialogue with Transport Scotland, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government going forward but I welcome this progress in the meantime.”

Letter from Lorna Slater MSP to Rhoda Grant MSP – Kinloch Castle

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed the news that further talks will take place regarding the impending sale of Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum.

The MSP has been advised today (28.10.2022) by the Minister, Lorna Slater, that the Scottish Land Commission has written to all three parties involved with further advice on next steps and ensuring a fair and responsible approach to the proposed sale. The Minister is also to meet with the Isle of Rum Community Trust next week to hear their concerns first hand.

Earlier this year, Mrs Grant had been approached about the impending sale of the Castle which was reported to be due to conclude on Monday, 31 October. The MSP, having previously tabled a Parliamentary Question on the matter, was then contacted by the Isle of Rum Community Trust and advised of their concerns which included access in front of the Castle and power system ownership/control.

Mrs Grant wrote to the Minister and to the Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, earlier this week asking for the sale to be paused until the concerns of the community could be heard and addressed. She has now been informed by the Minister that, despite reports in the media, 31 October is not a fixed deadline and more discussions will take place with all parties involved – NatureScot, the Community Trust and the proposed buyer – to discuss next steps.

Rhoda Grant said “I am delighted to hear that all is not lost in terms of the sale which, as it stands, would be in contrast to the Government’s own land reform agenda.

“The Community has very real concerns about the current proposals and the Minister has assured me that she does understand these concerns and that securing a sustainable future for Kinloch Castle will require community interests to be fully recognised in any agreement with the prospective buyer.”

Mrs Grant concluded “It is fantastic news that the community’s voice will now be heard and they will get the chance to discuss their concerns directly with the Minister and with the prospective buyer. It is right that the community is given this opportunity and I look forward to hearing more on this as talks progress.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, who has been pushing for safety measures to be introduced around the railway underpass in Aviemore town centre, is pleased to be advised that work on installing new lighting in the area will commence at the end of October.

The MSP took the issue up with Highland Council back in December 2020 after being contacted by a concerned constituent. Others have also since complained to the MSP about how unsafe the area is, particularly during the winter months and during periods of heavy rain.

Mrs Grant, who visited the area to see the situation for herself shared her constituents concerns and echoed calls for the burn area itself to be cleared of mud and leaves whilst waiting for the new lighting to be installed. Some works were carried out on the burn to drop the water level through the underpass at the beginning of this year which did go some way to helping the problem with high water levels adding risk in the area.

The MSP, who also successfully pressed for lighting along the route which runs parallel to the railway line and connects Osprey Grange, Dalnabay and Silverglades to the town centre said “Constituents had very real concerns about using the area, particularly during periods of heavy rain fall and during winter months, so I am pleased that the lighting will be installed before winter really kicks in.”

She said “The old lighting was beyond any temporary repair and Covid saw a delay in getting access to the lighting equipment required to make the area safer.

Having persevered in pushing Highland Council to install new lighting Mrs Grant said “The new lighting will be mounted on the roof of the tunnel so shouldn’t suffer from the same issues once installed. However as it is complete replacement rather than repair the works will take a bit longer than a normal repair but should be completed by mid November.

She concluded “I’m sure the work on the burn and the new lights will provide a lot more security for people using the area.”

Picture courtesy of Strathspey & Badenoch Herald

Challenge Poverty Week runs this week, 3^rd – 9^th October and this year the cost of living crisis poses a greater threat to people living on low incomes.  In today’s Scotland, no one should live in the grip of poverty.  We can solve poverty in Scotland!

Rhoda Grant believes everyone in Scotland should have access to healthy food.

She said “Today we hear that teachers reported that more than half of their pupils were coming to school hungry, 24% of children are in poverty in Scotland and already we’re reading and hearing of foodbanks running out of food due to demand. Many people in Scotland believe in justice and compassion and I believe ending poverty must be a top priority for all levels of government.”

“Access to food is a basic human right and my proposed Private Member’s Bill seeks to enshrine the Right to Food in Scots Law.  We need to ensure that people have access to healthy and nutritious food so that they and their families do not go hungry nor rely on food banks.

Mrs Grant continued “It is more pertinent now than ever, during a cost of living crisis, when people are making a stark choice between heating and eating, that we can support them and ensure people do not go hungry. The Scottish Government can help food banks and food shares by ensuring they are properly funded to meet the needs of the people who are coming to their doors every week. Just last week, I again contacted the Scottish Government appealing for more funding for these organisations who are seeing unprecedented demand.”

“We must take the appropriate action now and hopefully one day, everyone can access food for themselves and their families without relying on food banks and charities.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has made a further push for progress on dualling the A9 south of Inverness following the devastating accident at the Slochd summit in July of this year in which three people were killed and four were hospitalised.

Mrs Grant received representation after the accident and tabled a Parliamentary Question asking when the remaining single carriageway sections of the A9 south are due to be upgraded to dual carriageway. She received a response from the Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, which failed to give any indication of when things may move forward with the dualling and the MSP has now asked for a meeting with the Minister to discuss the matter in more detail.

Rhoda Grant said “Following the heartbreaking accident at the Slochd summit in July, I asked when the remaining single carriageway sections of the road are due to be upgraded.

“The reply I received from the Minister lacked any kind of detail. It advised that work to determine the most suitable procurement options for the remaining sections of the A9 dualling is ongoing, that it is a complex exercise, which looks at a number of factors including how the project can be delivered most efficiently, whilst minimising disruption to road users and helping to support economic recovery post-COVID.

The Highlands and Islands MSP, who has campaigned for improvements along the A9, north and south of Inverness, including at the Munlochy Junction continued “The dualling is due to be completed by 2025 but there is a lot of work still to be done on that. 2025 is fast approaching and we mustn’t take our eye off the ball. We need to keep the pressure on to ensure the Scottish Government moves forward with the rest of the upgrading as a matter of some urgency.

She concluded “I am seeking a meeting with the Transport Minister to ensure this issue is to the forefront of her mind and to encourage her and her officials to press forward without delay in making this road fit for the volume of traffic it carries daily.”

I called in to thank David Grieve and the volunteers at Shetland Foodbank for the amazing lifesaving service they offer.

Already this year, they have provided more food packages than the whole of last year and while it is heart breaking that we are seeing a huge increase in the numbers of people using foodbanks, without the dedication of David and thousands of others throughout the country, many more people would be destitute.

I am continuing to push on with a Bill to have a Right to Food enshrined in Scots Law so that one day, we will hopefully see the end of foodbanks in our communities.

I headed to the north of Shetland mainland with Cllr Tom Morton and met up with the folks from Northmavine Community Development Company to hear about their plans for the area. I heard about the waste saving benefits of the Bruckland Recycling facility and was fascinated to hear about the polycrubs that are popping up all over mainland Shetland and beyond.

Maree Hay, Managing Director, and Harry Haslam, Business Development Manager explained that these polytunnel/greenhouses are designed, using polycarbonate sheeting, to withstand the Shetland weather. They were certainly put to the test when I was there as the rain battered down on us!

Polycrubs are great personal and community assets with this one at Hillswick Health Centre available for community use, encouraging people to grow their own produce while also offering a great resource to help maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

I was delighted to call into Shetland Library to meet Supershelty and Bookbug, the library’s cuddly mascots!

Karen Fraser’s enthusiasm is catching, and the bright, welcoming library offers far more than just books. There are cosy seating areas throughout as well as computers available for anyone to use, with a helping hand never far away if needed.

I also heard about the mobile library service that changed the way they worked in order to be able to operate throughout most of the pandemic and was a lifeline to many people during that difficult time.