We are in the midst of an unprecedented period of transport infrastructure improvement in the North-east with our tracker telling us that around £4bn of projects are currently planned or underway and that does not include the close to £1bn invested in that new road of ours.
Dualling of the railway line will bring improved services to the north and new rolling stock will make journeys south more comfortable, if not faster. There are plans to improve roads at key city pinch points Haudagain and Berryden and in a year’s time, the new Aberdeen South Harbour will be open – the largest port in Scotland in terms of berthage.
Last but not least of course is the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route which is already transforming journey times in and across the area, improving productivity and quality of life.
While we celebrate and begin to enjoy the benefits these game-changing schemes will bring to businesses, residents and tourists we cannot simply sit back and think: job done.
This is not a case of being ungrateful for what we have received, rather a collective responsibility to ensure our infrastructure is fit for purpose to serve our renaissance region ambitions and that we get at least our fair share of available investment.
Businesses must make their voices heard to shape other committed projects such as the full dualling of the A96 to Inverness; ensuring the final plans best serve the overall best interests of the region and are delivered on schedule.
This month a range of Chamber members including LNER and Scotrail, met with Transport Scotland’s director of rail and Network Rail to make the case that it is unacceptable there is no plan in place to meaningfully improve journey times by train from and to other major cities. Currently travelling from Glasgow to Aberdeen, a distance of 145 miles takes around two and three quarter hours. Exactly the same as it takes to cover the 281 miles from Newcastle to London.
We welcome the establishment by Scottish Government of the Infrastructure Commission and the Chamber will be responding as one of the Regional Economic Strategy partners, coordinating responses in line with our members’ priorities at the same time raising concerns that the makeup of the group does not appear to adequately reflect the need for detailed knowledge of and focus on regions outside of the central belt.
Russell Borthwick is chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
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