Friday May 29th 2026
Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Miles Briggs, MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, has written to the new Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Stephen Flynn, urging him to give the green light to the Sheriffhall junction upgrade.
Letter to Stephen Flynn:
Dear Stephen,
Congratulations on your recent appointment and I wish you well as you take up your new role.
I am writing in regard to the upgrade of the Sheriffhall Junction which I have been campaigning to see take forward for the last decade.
Prior to the election I raised the issue for the then Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop at Portfolio Questions and I attach below a transcript of that exchange for your reference.
The delivery of the upgrade is of both local and national importance to both our transport system and also the economy.
I would be grateful if you could please provide me with an update on any progress in the development of the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout upgrade and when a statement is likely to be made to Parliament.
I would also welcome the opportunity to meet with you at the junction, at your earliest convenience, so that you are able to see the real need for investment in the junction as soon as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Kind regards,
Miles
Miles Briggs MSP explained:
“After yet another parliament in which no progress was made, it feels like Groundhog Day writing to another Transport Secretary about the pressing need for the upgrade of Sheriffhall to be given the green light.
“It was extremely disappointing that the last SNP Government showed no initiative to overcome Green lobbying and get this critical upgrade of both local and national infrastructure underway.
“There is no excuse for the SNP to make it through yet another parliament without delivering the upgrade of the Sheriffhall junction which has cost our economy billions and left motorists facing daily congestion on the city by-pass.
“That is why I have written to the new Cabinet Secretary, Stephen Flynn, to make sure this is the top of the to-do list in this new session of parliament.
“The former Transport secretary was clearly angry and frustrated that we did not see the opportunity for a decision to be taken prior to the election and that is why I have asked for an urgent update on any progress in the development of the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout upgrade and when a statement is likely to be made to Parliament on the SNP Government position.
“I have also invited the new Cabinet Secretary to meet with me at the junction, so he is able to see the real need for investment as soon as possible.
“£6 million of consultations have been done and resources from the last UK Conservative government under the Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland regional deal have been available to ministers for years. It is time for ministers and transport Scotland to commit to give the green light to the new Sheriffhall junction.”
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