Shadow Finance Secretary Donald Cameron has written to Transport Minister Michael Matheson urging him to 'wake up' to the implications of the latest closure of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Mr Cameron, a Highlands and Islands MSP,  said: “My letter is designed to impress on the minister the urgency of the situation and the growing anger of people across Argyll and Bute and the West Highlands at being treated as second-class citizens when it comes to our vital transport infrastructure.

“These repeated setbacks, which include continued concern about the state of the ferry service, is undermining business confidence and putting at risk our prospects of economic recovery after the Covid crisis.

“This is not just about roads: it’s about jobs, investment and our ability as a community to retain our young people and families.”

Councillor Alastair Redman, Policy Lead for Economic Growth on Argyll and Bute Council, commented: “I wish Donald every success in his continuing campaign to get the Scottish Government to listen to our pleas.

“Perhaps if our current SNP MSP had spent more time on lobbying for us, and less time grandly parading around as ‘Cabinet Secretary for Constitutional Relations’, we wouldn’t find ourselves in this mess.”

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly added "I fully support Donald Cameron and his huge efforts on this issues. It is beyond belief that the SNP government have allowed this situation to continue year on year . The impact on the Argyll and Bute economy is ferocious. They need to stop their obsession with separation and get on with actually delivering for the people."