Councils still in the dark over how to pay for AWPR (South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats)

South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Councils still in the dark over how to pay for AWPR

January 13, 2010 5:13 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting after a Ministerial statement on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, Liberal Democrat MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Mike Rumbles said:

"John Swinney failed to address the concerns of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils. Today they were told they will have to pay up to £37.5 million each towards the bypass.

"There was no indication forthcoming of how they are expected to pay for this. The tight restrictions of the Local Government settlement mean councils will find it especially difficult to part with this money.

"The Minister needs to stop angling for praise and tell local councils how he expects the bypass to be paid for."

Ends.

Notes to Editors

Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are each to pay 9.5% towards the AWPR, which is estimated to cost between £295 million and £395 million.