The SNP must stop hammering motorists at every turn, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
As he met road campaigners on Monday, Douglas Ross urged the SNP to drop plans to hit drivers with further taxes and finally commit to investing in crucial road upgrades across Scotland.
The Scottish Conservative Leader made the call on the local election campaign trail as part of a visit to meet with campaigners in Argyll and Bute who have continually pushed for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful to be upgraded by the SNP Government.
Douglas Ross said that the SNP are now yielding to the demands of their extremist Green coalition partners by back pedalling on previous commitments to invest in upgrading trunk roads such as the A83 as well as the A96, A75, A77, A82, A90 and A1.
Scottish Conservative led councils will also always oppose the introduction of any workplace parking levy for employees to bring their cars to work.
The SNP and Greens are pushing for this to be imposed in Glasgow and Edinburgh, while the SNP also want to introduce a ‘commuter tax’ for those travelling into the capital.
Douglas Ross also hit out at savage cuts from the SNP to local authorities which has resulted in roads across Scotland being blighted by potholes. Scottish Conservative councils will set aside funds for a local pothole fund so communities can call for repairs to blighted roads.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “The SNP-Green coalition are continuing to hammer the motorist at every turn.
“SNP Ministers are now agreeing to the demands of their extremist friends in the Greens by rowing back on previous commitments to upgrade crucial trunk roads.
“They are also happy to hit workers with an extra tax for simply driving to work.
“We now know they want to go even further in Edinburgh and hit commuters with a levy for travelling into the capital. These attacks on motorists simply cannot continue.
“For many, particularly in our rural communities like the ones I visited in Argyll and Bute, a car is a necessity not a luxury.
“SNP-Green Ministers are increasingly out-of-touch with these communities who have been crying out for years for roads to be upgraded. On the SNP’s watch roads have been allowed to crumble due to savage cuts to our local authorities during their 15 years in power.
“Only voting for Scottish Conservative councillors on May 5th guarantees local representatives who will be on the side of motorists and who will push for road upgrades and repairs.
“They will fight for a fair funding deal for our local authorities and set aside money for a Pothole Action Fund to allow communities to call for local roads to be repaired.
“Everyone understands the need to tackle the climate emergency. However, the SNP-Green coalition’s relentless attacks on those who need to have a car for work, seeing family and carrying out other day-to-day activities is increasingly misguided.
“It is time the SNP stopped bowing to their extremist Green partners and ensure vital upgrades on Scotland’s roads finally take place.”