MINISTERIAL FOREWORD

MINISTERIAL FOREWORD

The Scottish Government is committed to providing a first-class transport network which will support and grow the economy. The Government focus is on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. It is important therefore that we continue to manage the risks posed by climate change, to minimise the impacts of costly disruptions and safeguard the continued smooth functioning of services and infrastructure.

Part of this challenge is that we continue to adapt the future design and operation of the Scottish road network in response to the predicted effects of climate change. In June 2005 the Scottish Government published a report titled, Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study. This study considered the predicted trends in climate change and the implications of these for the Scottish road network. A series of recommendations were contained in the Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study report.

This is a progress report which has been prepared to detail how the recommendations of the Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study have progressed in the intervening period. Overall, considerable progress has been made in addressing the impacts associated with the predicted effects of climate change on the Scottish road network.

How we continue to manage the risks associated with climate change will be one of our main challenges for the future.

Stewart Stevenson
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change