Stevenson ignorance over weather warnings ‘beggars belief’

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has ignored potentially crucial warnings and recommendations about how to deal with the travel chaos that has engulfed Scotland for the past two weeks.

Yesterday, Annabel Goldie MSP revealed at First Minister's Questions that the SNP Government had not acted on the recommendations of a report published four months ago.

Today Annabel Goldie MSP said:

"It beggars belief that the proposals in this report – which could have been acted upon – have instead been sitting gathering dust on Stewart Stevenson's desk for four months.

"It emphasises the total lack of urgency which has characterised the Scottish Government's approach to this crisis. Every day brings new revelations and new questions that need answers.

"Stewart Stevenson's jacket is currently on a very, very shoogly peg."

Pages 29 and 30 of the report read:

"Possible consideration could be given to exploring the feasibility of implementing measures which other countries have adopted such as:

· Legislating to require citizens to clear snow and ice from footways adjacent to their properties
· Closing a road before it becomes impassable in order to clear it and treat it
· Co-ordinating closure of public facilities at a local level.
· Making it illegal to park on roads when they are being cleared of snow and ice
· Requiring lorries to park in lay-bys when snow arrives to reduce the risk of either losing traction or „jack-knifing‟ and coming to a halt, causing traffic delays."

The full report can be found at:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/reports/j13001/j13001.pdf

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