Rachael Hamilton MSP has expressed her disappointment at the lack of ambition in Transport Scotland’s latest report into Borders transport connectivity.
The new report is the latest in a series of studies, which identifies potential Borders transport related projects.
The specific aims of the Borders Transport Corridors Study were to identify cross modal problems and opportunities within the transport provision between the Scottish Borders and its key markets of Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle.
Ms Hamilton believes that the latest report is light on detail given it does not commit to any new projects and instead only sets out a list of potential projects which are to be further investigated.
The Scottish Government will consider the options identified as part of a Scotland wide transport review, which could take several years to conclude fully.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“The report which follows a draft ‘Borders Transport Corridors- Pre Appraisal Study Report’ from 2017 is very thin on new detail and fails to deliver new ideas.
“We have seen large capital investment up north in the dualling of the A9 and A96, yet the A1, A68 and A7 haven’t had a look in.
“Before the 2016 election, the First Minister went to Hawick and promised a feasibility study into extending the Waverley Line to Hawick. There is no concrete guarantee of that in this report.
“This report simply kicks the issue of poor road and rail connectivity of the Borders into the long grass”.