Nearly a year after the publication of the Final Union Connectivity Review, the failure of the UK Government to commit to funding the upgrade of the A77, which connects Ayr to South Scotland and the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway region is “shocking”, according to MSP Colin Smyth.

The MSP submitted a written question to the Scottish Government recently asking, “how much funding for the upgrade of the A75 and A77 has been committed by the UK Government”.

And Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said in reply: “To date, we are not aware of the UK Government committing any funding for the upgrade of either the A75 or the A77.”

Responding to the written answer, Colin Smyth said: “This answer confirms what we’ve all long known: that the south of Scotland is the forgotten region where it comes to improving vital infrastructure.

“It is time to recognise that the upgrading of the A75 and the A77 is a strategic priority for the whole of Scotland.”