Road Sense Says Taxpayers Will Be Left Counting Costs of Awpr

Campaigners opposed to the proposed route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route yesterday claimed it would be a huge burden on north-east taxpayers.

Road Sense claims the estimated pounds295million- pounds395million costs of the hybrid Milltimber Brae route are “not credible” and it could cost pounds600million.

It says that, given the SNP government wants to freeze council tax, the cash Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils are expected to contribute will have to be plundered from other budgets.

Speaking at a press conference in the Scottish Parliament, group member Dave Robb claimed councillors had been “misinformed or misled” into agreeing that the route was the best option.

He said the predicted pounds600million price tag was based on assertions by the Institute of Chartered Surveyors that building costs would increase by 33%, over and above the current estimate.

Mr Robb said Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils are expected to contribute 19% of the project cost.

He added: “Tavish Scott (former transport minister who unveiled the preferred route in December 2005) knew the road would have no positive effect on traffic congestion levels, so we feel this suggests that councillors were misinformed or misled to get them to agree to the project proposed.”

The group – which says the cheaper but now scrapped Pitfodels route would be more effective in easing traffic congestion – wants Transport Scotland to go back to the drawing board and come up with fresh proposals.

Mr Scott dismissed the criticism last night and said each route was evaluated thoroughly before the Milltimber Brae route was proposed as the best way forward.

But Road Sense chairman William Walton called for an inquiry into how the “flawed” hybrid route was devised.

He said the government must release all documents on the issue.

“We would like an investigation into the process, carried out by a Scottish parliamentary committee or an ombudsman or, if necessary, a public inquiry,” he added.

A spokesman for AWPR insisted the Milltimber Brae route best addressed the problem of “getting traffic around Aberdeen quickly and avoiding the growing hold-ups on the A90″.

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