THE UK's new Labour government has been urged to honour its predecessor's commitment to upgrade a major road in North Ayrshire.
The plea comes from Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson, who says improvement work on the B714 between Saltcoats and Dalry is "a key transport priority" for the area.
North Ayrshire Council (NAC) was awarded £23.7 million in 2021 from the UK Government's 'Levelling Up Fund' for the project.
That covered some 90 per cent of the project cost at the time, with cash from NAC's own investment fund used to make up the rest.
But since then, construction costs have soared, leaving a £5m deficit.
The road links the A78 at the Sharphill roundabout to the A737 south of Dalry.
Mr Gibson says it's a "vital strategic link" between the Garnock Valley and the Three Towns and beyond, as well as for drivers heading to and from Hunterston and the Arran and Cumbrae ferries.
The SNP politician has now written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is also Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary urging her to reaffirm support for the project.
In his letter to Ms Rayner, Mr Gibson said: "Construction costs have inflated substantially due to the impact of the pandemic and the economic policies of the previous UK Government.
"This initially created a £5 million deficit for the project, despite the adoption of a two-phased approach, reductions in project scope, and alternative funding sources for some aspects of the project."
In his letter, Mr Gibson reveals a dispute between the Department for Transport and what was then known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over who should take the project forward.
He continued: "Patricia Gibson, the previous MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, secured her most recent meeting with your predecessor as Secretary of State, Michael Gove, on May 22, 2024 which North Ayrshire Council’s chief executive, Craig Hatton, and I participated in.
"This was a helpful and constructive conversation.
"Both the UK Department of Transport and Levelling Up had been denying responsibility and referring the issue to the other.
"Mr Gove committed to speaking to then Secretary for Transport Mark Harper to 'sort it'. However, a UK General Election was called two days after this meeting."
Mr Gibson added: "There is a serious need for clarity regarding key aspects of the funding award which I would be grateful if you could provide.
"Despite the significant level of time and resource already put towards securing the initial award and preparing the business case, by North Ayrshire Council, Department of Transport officials indicated a possibility that the funding could be cancelled if UK Government policy changes.
"I would be grateful for confirmation that the UK Government will, at the very least, honour the £23.7 million award made in October 2021.
"I would also be grateful to know whether the UK Government will recognise the debilitating effects of inflation on this project and agree an uplift to the funding.
"I look forward to your reply."
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