First Minister issues A75 promise during Dumfries and Galloway visit

The visit comes as a £5 million study to assess where the bypasses should be placed is announced. Credit: ITV Border

Scotland's First Minister assures locals he will 'explore every possible opportunity' to improve safety during an A75 focussed visit to Dumfries and Galloway.

John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North and head of the Scottish National Party, visited Crocketford to explain to campaigners what he intends to do about bypassing the two villages of Crocketford and nearby Springholm - which the A75 currently runs through.

The visit comes as a £5 million study to assess where the bypasses should be placed is announced.

Campaigners continue to call for an upgrade of the key road, which links Stranraer with Gretna.

Speaking to ITV Border, John Swinney MSP said: "It's difficult to predict a timescale because there are many variables, such as public local enquiries.

"There is the possibility of smaller, more incremental improvements that might be possible to be taken forward to improve safety, and I certainly am keen to ensure we explore every possible opportunity for doing that.

"And then there are other suggestions on safety, for example, average speed cameras."

Jonathan Johnstone and his wife were getting ready for bed when a lorry crashed into their house just yards from the road in Crocketford. Credit: ITV Border.

Residents of Crocketford and Springholm - the only villages drivers pass through from Belfast to London - are concerned about the number of lorries which pass through the villages on their way to the ferry ports near Stranraer.

Residents say the dangers the A75 pose to them are very real and believe upgrading the A75 will help to mitigate the problems.

Two years ago Jonathan Johnstone and his wife were getting ready for bed when a lorry crashed into their house just yards from the road in Crocketford.

"We were in the bedroom when the truck came over onto its side on top of two cars and then slid into our bedroom wall," explained Mr Johnstone.

"The whole house shook, the lights went off momentarily, there was plaster coming out of the walls.

"My wife started screaming, 'we've just been hit by a truck!'

"We were scared. We've never experienced anything like that. But we were worried about the guy driving the truck. He was covered in blood."

Residents are most concerned about the amount of lorries that pass through the villages on their way to the ferry ports near Stranraer. Credit: ITV Border

Mr Swinney met with road campaigners and stakeholders including Belfast Harbour, Stena Line and P&O Ferries and Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson.

While the announcement of the £5 million civil engineering report has been welcomed, locals have reservations about whether the project will be completed.

Ann Botel, a resident of Crocketford, said: "At the end of the day it's going to come down to money and whether they can actually do it.

"It's difficult with the way we are placed, you've got the loch down the road, so to get a route to actually make a bypass might be a difficulty."

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