Scot Exec green-lights M74 against inquiry conclusion

Scotland’s £500m M74 extension faces legal challenges and on-site disruption from environmentalists after the scheme was given the go-ahead, despite the Scottish Executive ignoring advice from its own public inquiry team.

The green light for the contract, which will see the construction of an 8km stretch south of Glasgow, was given the go-ahead last week, even though Richard Hickman, the scheme’s local inquiry reporter, concluded that the project was “very likely to have serious undesirable results” on both the environment and the community.

Hickman added: “It is recommended that this proposal should not be authorised, and that the various orders should not be confirmed.

“It is therefore concluded that the public benefits of the proposal would be insufficient to outweigh the considerable disadvantages.”

The Executive justified its decision to approve the scheme stating: “The Scottish ministers accept the reporter’s findings of fact. They do not, however, accept the reporter’s main conclusions and his recommendation.”

Advertisements have already been placed in the OJEU for Contracts 1 and 2, with documents due out in May. An award is expected early next year. Tendering for Contract 3 will start next year, with an award expected in 2007.

Construction is due to start by the end of 2007, with the completion of all contracts set for 2008.