Pedersen Consulting (Home Page)

HIGHLAND COUNCIL

In May 2007 I was elected a an SNP member of Highland Council to serve Inverness South (Ward 20). I was surprised but honoured to come first in the poll for that ward under the single transferable vote system.www.highland.gov.uk

Key political issues with which I am involved at present are:

The Inverness Trunk Link Road (TLR)

After years of neglect by previous administrations, The SNP led Scottish Government has committed to fund major upgrades in the Highland transport infrastructure, including dualling of the A9 (our main southern link), upgrading the A96 and A82 (our main eastern and western links respectively) and increasing capacity and electrifying the Highland main railway line between Invernes and the South. In addition to these major strategic links, the Scottish Government has agreed to fund the eastern section of the TLR linking the A96 with the A9. This relieves the council from funding this section of the TLR.

To complete a by-pass for Inverness, it remains for the council to build the western section between Dores Road and Glenurquhart Road, including a river crossing. Adequate funding of £32 million has been budgeted over the next three years. This is made up of council funds and developer contributions. The current Council LibDem, Labour, Independent Administration seem to be unable to understand that the money is budgeted by the council and seek Scottish Government funds, presumably so that the council funds thus far allocated to the TLR would be used for other pet schemes.

Ferries Review

It is believed that Scotland's ferries are the most heavily subsidised in the world. Despite that, in many cases services are infrequent, operate for restricted hours and emit a disproportionate amount of CO2 and other greenhouse pollutants for traffic carried. The Scottish Government has embarked on a review of Scotland's ferries and I will be issuing periodic briefing papers on key problem areas and how these may be tackled by comparing best world practice with poor Scottish performance.