31 January 2011
Benefits across Scotland for critical rail freight fund
Transform Scotland and the
Rail Freight Group have today set out the locations throughout Scotland which would benefit from the retention of the Freight Facilities Grants scheme in the final version of the Scottish Budget 2011-12.
The groups have issued an appeal to all Members of the Scottish Parliament to save the FFG scheme ahead of the final discussions and debate on the Scottish Budget.
The briefing sets out a number of companies which could benefit from retention of the FFGs, including:
- Highland Spring (Blackford)
- Ailsa Horizons (Girvan)
- Russell (North Highlands)
- BSW Sawmills (Corpach)
- Diageo (Leven)
- Chapel / Newmains (South Lanarkshire)
The briefing also identifies a number of future potential locations across Scotland:
- Alloa (whisky)
- Bathgate (national distribution)
- Dundee (one of the largest British cities with no rail freight facilities)
- Elgin / Keith (whisky)
- Borders (waste and timber)
David Spaven, Scottish Representative of the Rail Freight Group, said:
"The availability of FFG capital grant has been critical to the vast majority of the switch from road to rail in the non-coal market in Scotland in recent decades. It has also secured significant mode switch from road to sea, e.g. for timber on the west coast. FFG has allowed 33 million lorry miles to be taken off Scottish roads annually since 1997, and supports economic development through providing a safe, sustainable and resilient alternative to road haulage."
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"In last week's debate on the Budget, John Swinney indicated that he was looking at the options to protect funding for transferring freight from road to rail. [1]
So we're waiting to see what the Cabinet Secretary will announce in the final round of discussions on the Budget."
We're suggesting the FFG be retained at around £5m per annum. In the past week alone, the Government has made announcements that it is ready to spend over £50m on dualling the A90 and up to £2,300m building an unnecessary second Forth road bridge. [2] [3]
So it is clear that there is no shortage of funds available to invest in transport. The question is whether the Scottish Government is prepared to support sustainable measures like the FFG scheme – or whether it will continue to prioritise subsidising road use."Notes to editors:[1] In last week's debate on the Budget, John Swinney MSP, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, said:
"I am receiving further representations about the freight facilities grant and I am examining and exploring some of the possibilities for our further supporting the work that is undertaken in freight facilities grants…”. See <
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/ORSearch/ReportView.aspx?r=6032&mode=html>
[2] Scottish Government, 'Go ahead for A90 Upgrade', 27/01/11: <
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/01/27112435>
[3] Scottish Government, 'Forth Replacement Crossing', 21/01/11:
<
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/01/21094653>