RBT Appendix 2
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 18 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Cabinet Secretary for Transport Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Còmhdhail Fiona Hyslop MSP/BPA a b c d T : 0300 244 4000 E : scottish.ministers@gov.scot Brendan O'Hara MSP brendan.ohara.mp@parliament.uk Our Reference: 202500486367 Your Reference: (Case Ref: BO28704) 9 October 2025 Dear Brendan, Thank you for your letter of 25 September 2025 on behalf of attendees at the A83 Roundtable meetings held in Inverary on 12 September 2025 concerning the A83 Rest and Be Thankful project. Firstly, I would like to thank all attendees for their valuable input on the potential impacts during construction of the Long Term Solution (LTS) to their business or industry. In your letter you raise concerns and seek reconsideration of the proposals to use the Old Military Road (OMR) under traffic lights and by a convoy system for extensive periods during construction of the LTS which, I would note, will become a two way road for approximately 60% of its length as part of the medium term solution (MTS). From the feedback I received from my officials at Transport Scotland who attended the A83 Roundtable meetings, coupled with the discussion at the recent A83 Taskforce on 1 October, I have gained a strong sense of feeling from stakeholders of their economic and wellbeing concerns in respect of the use of the OMR as a diversion route during construction of the LTS. I’m aware you did not attend the recent A83 Taskforce meeting but that your Senior Parliamentary Assistant, Kirsty Watson, attended in your absence. As discussed at the A83 Taskforce meeting, I have instructed Transport Scotland to review the work undertaken to date in relation to providing two-way operation for the MTS including use of the forestry track and a full two way road option. I’m aware of the concerns of A83 Roundtable attendees and also that time has passed since these options were assessed. I have also asked Transport Scotland to continue to engage with John Gurr of the A83 Campaign Group with a view to holding further meetings with the Group for open discussion on the MTS options previously assessed. Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See www.lobbying.scot Tha Ministearanna h-Alba, an luchd-comhairleachaidh sònraichte agus Rùnaire Maireannach fo chumhachan Achd Coiteachaidh (Alba) 2016. Faicibh www.lobbying.scot St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.gov.scot
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In tandem, Transport Scotland will engage with Highland and Island Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council with a view to setting up an Economic Action Group to consider potential economic impacts during construction of the LTS and possible mitigation or policies to assist in alleviating such impacts. My officials at Transport Scotland will also progress further engagement with the Road Haulage Association and Western Ferries to consider possible measures to encourage hauliers to use ferry services as opposed to the A83. It may be helpful for you to note that the preferred option for the MTS to improve the OMR was announced by the then Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth MSP, in December 2022 following detailed assessment of various options, including two way options for the OMR and forestry track, and also the use of the single lanes on the OMR and forestry track in a loop arrangement. Transport Scotland also met with the A83 Campaign Group to discuss the MTS and explain why options had been sifted out at a Roundtable meeting held in June 2024. Transport Scotland followed up this meeting by submitting a paper to the A83 Campaign Group on 6 September 2024 summarising the two way options which were considered and sifted out of the assessment for a MTS, in advance of draft Orders being published and the formal objection period commencing. Finally, I would like to reassure you and all A83 Roundtable attendees that the Scottish Government is committed to an infrastructure solution to address the A83 Rest and Be Thankful landslip risks. Delivery of a permanent and resilient solution is a priority, and we will continue to seek ways to achieve that as quickly as possible. As I outlined at the A83 Taskforce meeting, I remain keen to maintain progress to address the landslip challenges for this lifeline route to communities and businesses in Argyll and Bute. However, I also recognise the strong feeling from stakeholders regarding the use of the Old Military Road under traffic lights and by a convoy system for extensive periods during construction of the LTS. As such, Transport Scotland will progress the above work with the A83 Campaign Group in parallel with continuing to progress work on delivering improvements at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. I hope this is of assistance. Yours sincerely FIONA HYSLOP Cabinet Secretary for Transport Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See www.lobbying.scot Tha Ministearanna h-Alba, an luchd-comhairleachaidh sònraichte agus Rùnaire Maireannach fo chumhachan Achd Coiteachaidh (Alba) 2016. Faicibh www.lobbying.scot St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.gov.scot