By Jim Hislop

THE INFLUENTIAL Scottish Council for Development and Industry has demanded the immediate abolition of tolls on the Tay and Forth Bridges, the improvement of rail services from central Scotland to Dundee, Perth and further north, the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness and a strategic road-rail facility for freight in Fife.

The independent body was responding to the Scottish Executive’s consultation on a national transport strategy, and has also agreed that consideration of a new Forth crossing must be taken forward without delay and that Waverley Station, Edinburgh, be further redeveloped.

The SCDI also agrees with a statement in the NTS that facilitating economic growth is the first and foremost goal for Scottish transport policy.

SCDI policy analyst Tracy Walker said, “We believe that the support and promotion of economic growth should be the primary objective of transport policy. Connectivity is the key issue. This not only includes roads and public transport within Scotland, but links to the rest of the UK, to Europe and the rest of the world.

“A balance must be struck which sees new projects delivered to ensure that Scotland has a modern transport system which is better than, or at least comparable with, our competitors, and ensuring that current infrastructure is upgraded to operate at its optimum.

“We would like to see an increased level of investment in roads to help address the lack of investment in the past.

To meet the demands of the road user, the priorities for SCDI include dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

“The number of years required to construct a new Forth crossing means that the consideration of different options, including a tunnel, should commence without delay. Before projects can be agreed there is a need for detailed evaluation of their value for money and operational feasibility. As this process takes time, SCDI would like to see these considered as soon as possible.

“SCDI continues to call for the abolition of tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges. Should any road-charging scheme be introduced, bridges would then be considered, and a charge allocated, on the same basis as all other roads in Scotland.

“We support feasibility studies into high-speed rail connections between Scotland and London.

“However, in order to fully reap the benefits of such a link services to Dundee, Perth and further north would also have to be improved.

“The latest reports commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANS and the Highland Rail Partnership clearly demonstrate the benefits which can be brought by upgrading current infrastructure.

“The report shows that with an investment of £55 million significant savings could be made on Perth to Inverness journey times. This would allow the train to compete more effectively with making the journey by car.

“It has been suggested that work in Fife could bring benefits to services to Perth, Dundee, Inverness, Aberdeen and the north-east. SCDI believes there is a need for further development of Waverley Station. This would allow increased rail traffic and would bring benefits for the Scottish transport system as a whole.

“It is disappointing that the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry service has been reduced in the last year. It is to be hoped that industry will continue to utilise this route and in increasing numbers and the full, two-vessel service is reinstated and sustained in the future.