THE county’s transport spokesman has reiterated his desire to see East Lothian’s main road improved in a letter to a Scottish Minister.

Politicians and members of the public have called over a number of months for the A1 to become fully dualled north of the Border.

However, Transport Scotland insists the road between the Borders and Edinburgh “enjoys a safe and efficient operation, with few journey time reliability issues”.

Councillor Michael Veitch is the chairman of the Scottish A1 Action Group and this month he wrote to Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport, calling for something to be done.

He said: “It has been reported that the UK Government has offered to extend their A1 feasibility study if the Scottish Government are willing to provide funding.

“East Lothian Council and others involved in the Scottish A1 Action Group are strongly supportive of the dualling of the route and would therefore be very grateful for an update on the Scottish Government’s plans.” The letter from Dunbar ward member Mr Veitch, East Lothian Council cabinet member for transport, comes just weeks after a request from county MSP Iain Gray for the Scottish Government to take up an offer from Westminster to match fund a potential feasibility study on dualling the remaining single-carriageway sections north of the Border.

Mr Veitch said it was his “firm conviction” that the case for dualling the A1 between Dunbar and Berwick remained “robust”, both in terms of safety and on economic grounds.

He added: “Any moves by the UK Government to improve the A1 south of the Border should be a catalyst to act in Scotland, hence my letter to Mr Keith Brown.

“I very much hope that the Scottish Government choose to seize this project with both hands, and to work with their UK colleagues to finally secure the full dualling of the route.” A spokesman for Transport Scotland confirmed it had received Mr Veitch’s letter and would respond in due course.

However, he highlighted the money invested in the road in the last seven years, saying: “Since 2007, over £19 million has been invested to maintain and improve the A1, the majority of which in Scotland is already dual carriageway. “Our analysis shows the A1 between the Borders and Edinburgh enjoys a safe and efficient operation, with few journey time reliability issues. “As such, the key objective for the route is to promote a continuing reduction in accident rates and with this is mind we will continue to look at ways to improve and upgrade the A1.

“We are engaging with the UK Department for Transport to discuss their proposals to undertake a feasibility study for improvements to the A1 between Newcastle and the Border.”