Good morning, convener, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide you with an update on progress at the Rest and Be Thankful next to the A83.
I am acutely aware of the importance of the A83 trunk road to the communities and the economy of Argyll and Bute. We have continued to invest in this key route: since 2007, we have invested £79.2 million in the maintenance of the A83 trunk road.
Since the decision at the February 2013 task force meeting to progress with the red option measures, the Scottish Government has provided funds of £13 million on landslide mitigation measures and improvements to the local old military road diversion. Those measures have been successful in helping to keep the A83 open for 48 days when it would otherwise have been closed.
However, at my first A83 task force meeting, in November 2018, following concerns being raised by local stakeholders, I announced that the Argyll and Bute region would be one of the first to be reported on in the strategic transport projects review 2 process.
I am glad to report that we have recently reached the first major milestone of the review with the publication of the draft regional case for change report for Argyll and Bute. The publication of the report is the first step in the appraisal process, and it sets out the evidence base that underpins the review. The next steps will see the development of a short list of interventions, which will then be taken through a detailed appraisal later this year.
We continue to explore ways to reduce the risk of impact from landslides in the area. I am glad to announce today that I have given approval for the construction of the next roadside catch pit at the Rest and Be Thankful in the coming financial year, which is valued at £1.9 million. Once it is complete, the phase 1 catch pit will provide an additional 4,600 tonnes of storage capacity to collect debris flow from landslides, to add to the 14,600 tonnes of capacity that is provided by the four existing catch pits.
I have asked my officials to discuss the timing of these works with Argyll and Bute Council, as we have the option to build the pit between June and December 2020 or to delay until after the tourist season and to build it between September 2020 and March 2021.
We have also progressed the programme of planting trees on the hillside, to reduce the risk of landslide. Land purchase at the Rest and Be Thankful has been concluded, and we are working closely with Forestry and Land Scotland to reintroduce the required local-provenance, native vegetation on the hillside. The erection of a deer fence is programmed to commence this summer, with planting due to commence early next year.
I am more than happy to respond to questions from committee members.