Tag: A9

Tonight: BBC Alba’s Eòrpa investigates delays in dualling the A9

The A9 road between Perth and Inverness was originally due to be fully dualled by this year. Chronic delays have seen Scottish ministers push that back to 2035. Reporter Andrew MacKinnon hears from locals and drivers affected by this 10-year delay, alongside Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP in the latest Eorpa documentary: The A9 | An A9.

Campaigners have long argued for swifter progress, citing safety concerns on a road that regularly changes from single to dual carriageway. There has been political criticism of the Scottish Govenment’s failure to deliver on their original promise.

Tragically, there has all too often been the grief and pain that accompanies the loss of a loved one on what has become a notorious stretch of road.

Ronnie Weir’s house in the village of Dowally in Perthshire is a mere 25 meters from an undualled section of the A9. In April 2017, Ronnie suffered serious leg injuries on the same stretch when a car travelling in the opposite direction hit his vehicle head on. The female driver of the other car died at the wheel.

Speaking to Eòrpa, he told how the trauma follows him to this day: “You’re always concerned whether it is near the home or anywhere because the trauma which an accident causes is horrendous.  

“Sometimes it’s difficult to speak about it because of that and it brings back memories about how insensitive some people were about the whole accident. They just wanted to keep on the road and don’t care.”

Lorry driver Elaine MacKenzie, whose job means frequent journeys up and down the section of the A9 that’s now due to be dualled by 2035, told Eòrpa: “People don’t understand that the signs say 50mph for lorries but not for cars.

“Everything slows down. Those behind me can’t get past, they get impatient, and they don’t understand that there’s people in front of me, and then they try to get past me in dangerous places. This is every day. I pray every time I go on the A9.”

Dualling is set to gather pace ahead of the 2035 deadline. Farmer Pamela Laird’s family has run East Dowally farm in Perthshire for generations. Speaking on camera for the first time about her situation, she told Eòrpa she’s set to lose a quarter of her land to the A9 under Scottish Government compulsory purchase powers.

So far she doesn’t know how much she’ll get: “We’re losing a hundred acres. In some areas they’re stripping the topsoil off and lowering it.

So it’s very invasive, very invasive. Flooding is number one worry for us. I don’t believe that the swales and suds and any mitigation that they have put into place will cope with the Tay when it is in full flow.

“I think when the river rises it’s just going to rip through everything.”

Transport Scotland told Eòrpa mitigation measures have been taken, including culverts to allow waters to drain.

The Scottish Government’s commitment is now for completion of dualling between Perth and Inverness by 2035.

Pressed on continuing safety concerns about sections yet to be dualled, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “Any loss of a life on the A9 or indeed other roads in Scotland is a tragedy in and of itself.

“Road safety is something as Cabinet Secretary for Transport I take extremely seriously and in terms of the A9 we’ve also invested five million pounds on interim shorter term road safety issues.

“We’re not waiting just for the dualling. The dualling in and of itself will help on road safety and that’s one of the reasons that clearly we’ve embarked on it.”

Inverness-based reporter Andrew MacKinnon: “The Scottish Government’s new deadline of 2035 can be seen as bitter-sweet. Progress is being made, and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has given her assurances that 2035 will be met.

“However, those who point to a need for the section to be dualled for safety reasons are faced with another 10 years before that’ll be done. And those who have suffered the tragic loss of loved ones will continue to grieve.”

Eòrpa: The A9 | An A9 premieres on BBC ALBA TONIGHT Monday 25 August at 9pm, and on iPlayer from 6am the same day.

Watch live or on demand: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mvwb/eorpa

Stranded mum who nearly gives birth on the A9 during Storm Gerrit thanks emergency staff

A mum stuck on the side of the road following Storm Gerrit flooding said she’ll always be grateful to the emergency responders who rushed her to hospital to give birth to her first child.

Louise Lyon, 31 of Pitlochry, was on the A9 near Ballinluig on December 28 around 11.20 am, and enroute to Perth Royal Infirmary to give birth, alongside partner Stephen Nicol.

However, with Louise in the late stages of labour, flooding forced the road to be closed.

An ambulance crew of Selene Rae, Paramedic, and William Young, Paramedic Team Leader, of Pitlochry, Alistair Daw Paramedic and David Bywater, Lead Consultant Paramedic, both working out of SCAA’s Helimed 76 alongside Pilot Captain Kimball Chillcott, also attended to assist with the road transfer of Louise to Perth Royal Infirmary.

Louise said: “As this was my first baby, my partner and I were both scared that we would not make it to the hospital in time.

“From the moment the ambulance arrived, Selene made me feel so at ease and cared for. My waters had broken and I felt embarrassed and scared but she was calm and made me feel comfortable and got me gas and air to help alleviate the pain.”

Louise and her partner were transported to Perth Royal Infirmary by road ambulance and she gave birth to Olivia at 1305.

She added: “A paramedic from the SCAA air ambulance team stayed in the ambulance with us to support should things develop quickly.

“During the ride to the hospital, they continuously checked me after each contraction and encouraged me to use the gas and air to ensure I didn’t give birth in the ambulance before it was time. They spoke to me the entire time to make me feel comfortable and tried to ease the fear I had.

“Upon arrival at the hospital, they stayed with me during my labour and helped me to welcome my little girl into the world. They made a first-time mum feel very safe and cared for. The care that they provided was above and beyond what I could ever have expected.”

To say thanks, Louise also delivered a card to the crew at Pitlochry to say thanks to all those involved.

She wrote: “Thank you so much for the care you gave me whilst I was in labour. Words can’t express how grateful I am to you. You truly went above and beyond to ensure Olivia was brought into the world safely.”

She said that without the responders, her partner would have had to become a midwife and deliver the baby at the side of the road.

She added:” I cannot put into words how scared I was and from the moment the paramedic stepped out of the ambulance my fear completely slipped away. The two paramedics supported both myself and my partner to ensure we remained calm after what had been a traumatic experience.”