STPR2 recommendations regarding Gourock to Dunoon bridge: EIR release

Information requested

In the letter sent from Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson, he states:

“I can confirm that STPR2 has not recommended any further work is progressed on a proposed fixed link across the Firth of Clyde. This was on the basis that the preliminary assessment work had highlighted significant issues in relation to topography and infrastructure requirements needed for this option.”

I would like the following information:

1. The preliminary assessment work in the form it was presented to the relevant Minister or Cabinet Secretary [proposed fixed link between Gourock and Dunoon].

2. Between what dates was the assessment work carried out [proposed fixed link between Gourock and Dunoon]?

3. On what date was the recommendation made that the Gourock to Dunoon Bridge Project should not be included in the published version of STPR2?

4. All communication between Transport Scotland and Scottish Government ministers in relation to a proposed fixed link between Gourock and Dunoon between 1st January 2020 and 7th March 2022.

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations.

The following exception applies to Question 3 & 4

Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs) allows public authorities to refuse to make environmental information available if they don't hold the information when the request is received.

Response to your Request

I enclose the some of the information requested:

Q1. The preliminary assessment work in the form it was presented to the relevant Minister or Cabinet Secretary.

A. Assessment work on a proposed fixed link between Gourock and Dunnon was undertaken as part of the Access to Argyll Project. This is published here:

Project Corridor Options - Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) - Published on Transport Scotland website - 23 September 2020.
https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/project-corridor-options-access-to-argyll-and-bute-a83/

Assessment work was not revisited or further work undertaken through the STPR2 process. As part of STPR2 a number of Case for Change reports were published in February 2021:

STPR2 - Argyll and Bute Case for Change – Published on Transport Scotland website – 3 February 2021
https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/initial-appraisal-case-for-change-argyll-and-bute-stpr2/

These Case for Change reports sought to identify problems and opportunities nationally and in the regions, to then develop transport planning objectives and subsequently to generate a long list of options that could be considered through the STPR2 process. A fixed link between Gourock and Dunoon was not identified to address the strategic problems and opportunities and associated transport planning objectives.

Q2. Between what dates was the assessment work carried out?

A. Assessment of 11 route corridors, two of which included a crossing between Gourock and Dunoon, commenced when the corridors were published on 23 September 2020. The conclusion of that assessment resulted in the publication of the Preliminary Assessment Report on 18 March 2021, alongside the announcement of the preferred route corridor.

Q3. On what date was the recommendation made that the Gourock to Dunoon Bridge Project should not be included in the published version of STPR2?

A. Exception Information not held - Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
Scottish Ministers were not presented with a decision on Gourock to Dunoon fixed link, in the context of STPR2.

Q4. All communication between Transport Scotland and Scottish Government ministers in relation to a proposed fixed link between Gourock and Dunoon between 1st January 2020 and 7th March 2022.

A. Exception Information not held - Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
No information held.Any information presented to Ministers was in the context of the Access to Argyll study as a whole.

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