COUNCILLORS and officials in South Ayrshire will seek to work with their colleagues in Dumfries and Galloway to force movement on upgrades to the ‘not fit for purpose’ A77.

The council’s cabinet agreed to move to gather evidence for the need to upgrade the trunk road south of Ayr.

Transport Scotland has indicated that it accepts the need for improvements to be made on the road, but hasn’t provided any specific programme or funding.

Councillors have agreed to compile the need for improvements using the Scottish Transport Assessment Guidance (STAG) model.

Councillor Bob Pollock said it was a ‘national disgrace’ that the road had not been upgraded.

He said: “There is an excellent ongoing working arrangement with Dumfries and Galloway Council. My preferred option, if Dumfries and Galloway wished to do so, is for a joint STAG on the A77 and A75.

“Everyone recognises the strategic importance of both roads to us. Although that is what we are primarily looking at here, there is also a social cost and personal cost.

“There have been a number of fatalities along the A77. We are all aware of these over the years.”

Cllr Pollock added that he wanted to see a taskforce set up, similar to those already established to address the issues on the A9 and A83.

“It seems we are being left out in the south west," he said.

"Look at the emphasis at a national level on both of these roads [the A9 and A83]. The A75 and A77 need to get the same consideration.”

Council leader Martin Dowey said that he had written to the First Minister and Depute First Minister of Northern Ireland, suggesting the potential for investment along both of the routes, which are used by thousands of commercial vehicles each year travelling to and from the ferry ports at Cairnryan.

He said: “I know the A75 is not fit for purpose, but when compared to the A77, it is a million times better.

“When you get south of Ayr the A77 is not fit for purpose. Even on the [Maybole] bypass, on the roundabouts you can see the tar is starting to move. It needs investment now.”

Girvan and South Carrick independent councillor Alec Clark said: “The only investment we have really had in the A77, of any significance, has been the Maybole bypass.

“Even there it pales into insignificance to the investment there has been in other parts of Scotland. We seem to be the forgotten corner right enough.”

He said that the companies who are considering investing £500m in a 'green port' will not do so if there is no investment in the roads.

“The more we can lobby and the more we can get some action and involve other councils, and involve Northern Ireland to take things forward, the sooner, the better," Cllr Clark added.

"If we don’t we are going to see a downgrade of that ferry port.”

Cllr Dowey agreed, saying: “You come off a brand new ferry and go on to a dirt track up the road. Apart from everything else, it is dangerous.”

Independent councillor Bob Shields asked whether the development of the STAG, which is due to take 12 months to compile, could be speeded up.

David Mason, of Ayrshire Roads Alliance, said the STAG was a ‘substantial piece of work’ which requires officers to gather evidence to present to the Scottish Government, including engagement with communities, businesses and stakeholders as.

He added: “This report would put weight behind the claims we have been making as a council for years.”

The report was approved by the cabinet.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "The strategic importance of both the A75 and A77 to Scotland's economy is recognised by this government, and we value the critical link they provide to the wider markets in the rest of the UK and Europe by connecting the ports at Cairnryan to the wider trunk road network.

"Recommendation 40 in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review places equal importance on both the A75 and the A77 to Scotland and its economy.

"As with the A75, it identifies a series of targeted infrastructure improvements on the A77 for the next 20 years.

"Since 2007 we have completed five major improvements on the A77, including most recently the £29 million Maybole Bypass which opened in January 2022.

"This is in addition to over £124 million which has been invested on the A77 to ensure its safe and efficient operation."