RUMBLES TO PRESS GOVERNMENT ON AWPR

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Jun 2009

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles is set to quiz the Scottish Government on the start date of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) at Question Time in the Scottish Parliament on the 18th of June.

Mr Rumbles will ask Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson if the findings of the Public Local Inquiry will be revealed before the Scottish Parliament goes into recess for the summer.

Commenting Mr Rumbles said:

"The SNP government has previously said that it would announce the results of the local inquiry 'in the summer'. The Scottish Parliament goes into recess at the end of June and it would be a disaster if we need to wait until Parliament resumes in September to get things moving on the AWPR.

"Not only is this a vital strategic transport project that is long overdue, but with the downturn in the construction industry at the moment there is a very good chance that the Scottish Government would be able to secure a very competitive contract for the project if it went out to tender soon.

"I am hopeful that the Minister will confirm next week that he is in a position to take the AWPR forward before the Scottish Parliament's summer recess begins."