Chancellor Rachel Reeves to announce £66m investment in Scottish transport

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce £66m worth of investment in Scottish transport on Friday.

Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7m to link Paisley town centre with Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport.

New walking, cycling, bus and car links will also be built in the area.

Another £23.7m will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714 – providing a faster route between the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, as well as reducing traffic in Kilwinning.

The Chancellor says she prioritised finding the cash during last month’s Spending Review.

She said: “We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for.

“Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66m investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will be given an extra £3.45m to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.

The key road links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK.

Scotland secretary Ian Murray, said: “New road links will connect Paisley town centre with Glasgow Airport and the new advanced manufacturing innovation district, to boost high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire.

“The upgrade to the B714 will speed up journeys between Glasgow and the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, as well as cutting traffic in Kilwinning.

“And the A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full.”