Decision details

The following Notice of Motion under Standing Order 13 was before the Council for consideration –

Motion

Over the past four - at least - Council terms, there is one issue which results consistently in unanimity across the Council Chamber.

That issue is the need for urgent action at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, Argyll and Bute’s lifeline in every single aspect of life in this region.

Over the past decade and more, this Council has, in recognition of the absolutely vital importance of the situation, called for action and engaged with government at all levels to press the urgent and utterly vital need for a permanent solution to be identified and, crucially, put in place, as quickly as possible.

In each new Council term, that approach has been reiterated and backed up by action of various forms, including numerous motions to Council and Committee, extensive ministerial correspondence from Council Leaders and colleagues, including joint cross-party approaches, and countless discussions at both political and official level.

It is also worthy of recall that our colleagues in the Argyll First group submitted a 10,000-signature petition to the Scottish Government’s Public Petitions Committee - a petition which, in 2012, was unanimously supported by that Committee and, subsequently, endorsed by the Council in that term. That petition is, of course, still very much alive and is due to be considered again by that Committee in the near future. Also worthy of note is the petition signed by over 400 Argyll and Bute businesses - more evidence of the urgency and the impact of this situation on the local economy.

All of this has resulted in progress - including the trunking of the A83 between Kennacraig and Campbeltown. The key action though remains; and we remain united in our call, as a new Council, for urgent action.

I ask colleagues today, in this new Council term, to join together once again and reaffirm this Council’s position once more. Let this be the Council term where we see a very significant leap forward towards the permanent solution that our communities desperately need to see in use; where we see ground broken on the ‘new Rest and Be Thankful’.

Argyll and Bute Council:

• Welcomes the progress made towards that goal with the Scottish Government’s announcement of its £25m investment in design and development work for the route through Glen Croe;
• Reaffirms and reiterates our previous calls for planning, construction and opening of the replacement route within the life of the this Scottish Parliament, as a strategic priority for Argyll and Bute;
• Resolves to continue our engagement with national government at all possible opportunities to press home the case for urgent action without delay, including through participation in the A83 Taskforce alongside continued dialogue with ministers; noting the Leader’s update on his most recent engagement with the Transport Minister and that this will continue as often as required; and the Council’s recent presentation from the RABT Campaign Group.

Proposed by: Cllr Robin Currie, Leader of the Council

Seconded by:  Cllr Jim Lynch, Leader of the SNP Group

Decision

The Council agreed the terms of the Motion.

(Reference:  Notice of Motion by Councillor Robin Currie, seconded by Councillor Jim Lynch, submitted)