Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government remains committed to medium and long term solutions to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

I can confirm that design and assessment work for both medium and long term solutions at the Rest and be Thankful is being taken forward from the Capital Land and Works allocation as part of the Scottish Budget: 2022-23.

As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment with regional and local transport strategies.

Following selection there will of course be intensive discussions with each of the successful designations on all aspects of their proposals.

Discussions with the Chair of the Ferries Community Board remain ongoing to develop the scope of work to be undertaken. I will next meet with the Chair on Wednesday 5 th October.

The A83 preliminary ground investigation site works are now complete. The data from this will inform the design of both the medium and long term solutions.

Around 170 representatives from a wide range of stakeholder groups were invited to attend events across Shetland, Orkney, Stornoway, Oban, Glasgow and Benbecula in direct reference to the work highlighted.

With funding from the Scottish Government, SEPA has contracted an environmental consultant to manage the construction of a leachate management system at the former landfill site at Tarbolton Moss, to prevent the ongoing discharges of landfill leachate to neighbouring watercourses and make it possible for leachate disposal to the public sewerage system. The design phase is now complete.

SEPA continue to monitor ongoing environmental risks at the site and completed their latest survey in August 2022. This found no significant increasing trends associated with the migration of landfill gas or impact to groundwater from leachate.

My officials are working closely with our public partners to consider further actions for the long-term restoration of the site.

I can confirm that, Network Rail Scotland, has developed a plan for installing platform edge tactile paving at all Scottish stations by the end of the current Rail Regulatory Control Period 6 (end of March 2024). The work is being completed over two phases. Phase 1 installed tactile paving at 18 high priority stations by the end of March 2022, phase 2 will address the remaining 148 stations.

I have discussed this with stakeholders over the summer and CalMac has been asked to investigate options to consider how there can be greater access for 'Islands Essential Travel' for those who need to make bookings at shorter notice. We will need to carefully consider any system and look to mitigate any unintended consequences.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10694 on 27 September 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11074 on 5 October 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers