Promises Made In The Heat Of The Night.

[douglas9401]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-67771630

That banging you can hear is the sound of the SNP hammering nails into the coffin in which their pitiful remains will be buried.

Years it's already taken to dual about 16 miles. Somebody needs to look long and hard at who profits from this lack of productivity.

It was obvious to anyone who cared to look that the 'temporary' raising of the speed limit for trucks to 50mph and the installation of average speed cameras for almost the entire length of the road from Perth to Inverness, a hundred-odd miles,  that the so-called project was at best a pipe dream and at worst a downright lie with no chance of completion this side of never.

The latest trick is simply to put 'uneven road surface' signs about the place instead of fixing the damned thing.

Time to be rid of this comedy parliament and the dross that fills it and go back to the good old days of a straight 'no' from Westminster on spending.

[ToraToraTora]

Well they spent all the dosh on free stuff so they could go na na nana na to England. I agree they should definitely get shot of the "parliament" devolution has been a disaster.

[Old_Geezer]

You think they should hit the road ?

[jourdain2]

Bear in mind, Douglas, that I lived in  France from 2000 until comparatively recently, please.  I can't quite understand all this.

During the 1990s I drove up and down the A9 reasonably regularly and it was a perfectly good road.  Yes, single lanes, but I met no particular problems in Summer or Winter.  In fact I praised it in comparison to some roads in Yorkshire.

Dualling it all would have been tricky but I assumed when I heard that it  had been announced, that it would all be completed by now.  I'm appalled t.b.h.. Proof of profligacy and inefficiency.

I've only visited the Borders in the last few years, so was impressed by those roads.

Here - I dearly wish (as does everyone else) that the A64 would finally be dualled from York to the coast - only about 40 miles.  It's been shelved again. 

I'm not saying you're wrong about Westminster - but it is not what it was, very sadly.  :(

 

[Old_Geezer]

One needs to understand that despite all the money ripped off from motorists as one of governments' favourite cash cows, authorities can't even keep existing roads in good repair, seems more like a third world country here on that respect, so what chance managing to upgrade any ?

[douglas9401]

Maybe awarding the contract to a Chinese company would help.

 

They already manage to make and deliver everything we need so why not roads?

Of course we might have to give them free rein working conditions wise but wouldn't it be refreshing to see fewer huddles and shovel leaning.

[New Judge]

There's one of our friends on here who continually bleats about Brexit being a "disaster" for the UK. Well the effect of Brexit on the UK is but nothing compared to the pernicious influence the SNP has had on Scottish affairs. And they have been able to exert that influence because of devolution. That is the true disaster visited on the UK.

The minor members have all suffered:

Wales has been slaughtered by a maniacal First Minister who has never held a proper job in his life and  who took pride in confining the Welsh to their homes,  allowing them out only once a day during the pandemic. The Welsh health service is even worse than that in England (if you could imagine such a thing) and Welsh patients are having to head to England for treatment.

Northern Ireland has been without a devolved administration for 70% of the time from 2017 and for 40% of its time since 1999 - courtesy of its ridiculous constitution born out of devolution.

Meanwhile Scotland has become the highest taxed part of the UK, its government presiding over a succession of infrastructure disasters whilst being consumed with an obsession for a totally unachievable independence. Couple this with a rabid hatred of the Westminster Parliament, which it blames for all its shortcomings and the effect of the people of Scotland has been disastrous.

By comparison Brexit is a stroll in the park which will eventually see the UK thrive. Devolution is the real disaster and the sooner the people unfortunate enough to have to live under devolved administrations are relieved from their misery, the better.

[anneasquith]

I know someone who could be awarded a contract again .,, no wrong political party this time . 

[Khandro]

"The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England!"

 

Dr Samuel Johnson.

[jno]

I do believe the London government has gone one better. It vowed to use the savings from cancelling the HS2 train on improving transport connections in the North.

In fact they're going to use some of it to fill potholes in London. Perhaps that's what's meant by "levelling up".

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/20/disbelief-at-plan-to-fix-london-potholes-as-part-of-network-north-project

Promises indeed.

[mushroom25]

the Holyrood government have announced a 9% increase in train fares, and this has got plenty on social media excited this morning -

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/scotrail-train-fares-to-increase-by-nearly-9-scottish-government-confirms 

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Mushie!  have a good Xmas if you dont post again b4 the 25th

[Peter Pedant]

In fact they're going to use some of it to fill potholes in London.

North london I suppose ( Kilburn and brent)

[jno]

Barnet's potholes are worse than Brent's and Camden's. Some of them should probably be reclassified as sinkholes.

England's rail fare rise will be less than 9%, the government has promised.  But then so is Scotland's.

[Deskdiary]

69.5% marginal tax rate now in Scotland. 
 

I understand the only country with a greater rate is Belgium.

[Deskdiary]

Of course the marginal tax rate doesn't bother most people, in fact they love it, because most people aren't affected. If they were affected they'd hate it. They just would and they're liars if they say they wouldn't.

As I keep on saying, it's only ever everybody who doesn't pay enough tax. Funny that, isn't it.

Frankly, Scotland is Effed. 

[Deskdiary]

According to Robison this is the fault of Westminster.

She is utterly deluded, but the slavish useful idiots who believe Scotland are a viable independent country  will flap their flippers and believe the bullsiht they're being peddled. 
 

I feel sorry for them that they can't see it.

[jourdain2]

jno - a friend, driving  to work on a very wet day, 3 miles away, drove into a puddle at the side of the road (narrow) to avoid a tractor on the other side -  she ripped the bottom out of her car!

It was a write-off.  There was a pothole so deep that a stick of metal (probably off another tractor) jammed in it was invisible under the water.  I have had to replace front passenger-side suspension every other year that  I have lived here.  

Not just potholes - our roads are actually collapsing around us.  The 'main road' through our village is the designated police/ambulance emergency route.  When we came here it was 2 clear lanes and cars and tractors could pass by.  Now you have to slow and edge over - even stop if you meet a tractor.

The North is grinding to a  halt - and we could be the powerhouse the country needs.  It's a tragedy.

[Deskdiary]

The usually loud AB Nats (we know who they are - everybody on AB knows who they are) are unusually quiet.

The Nats, driven by St Urgeon, have utterly screwed the Scottish people.
 

I feel sorry for them having these utter incompetent feathernesters in charge of them (whilst secretly finding it hilarious!).