The UK Government has extended the deadline for councils to respond to the UK Government’s transport infrastructure review to the end of January. The PM launched the review on the 3rd October 2020. The review led by Sir Peter Hendy CBE will look at major capital spend on connections across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
Commenting, Leader of the Conservative Councillor Group Cllr Tim Eagle (Buckie Ward) said: “Pretty much every single person has some connection with transport, we might use it to get to work, meet family, shop or travel but equally the goods and services we buy often rely on a boat, a plane or a lorry to get to our local shops.
“The UK Government fully recognises the important of the infrastructure that supports this which is why, as part of their levelling up actions, they are undertaking a full review across the UK.
“I cannot understand why it is that something so important to every community in Scotland, and a major part of our recovery from COVID-19, the Scottish Government led by the SNP have refused to take part in it. We are talking potentially billions of pounds of spending and all the jobs that could bring.
“I raised this with the chief executive of Moray Council asking him to confirm that Moray Council will submit a response to this review and I am pleased that officers are working on this now. Moray has a huge road network and our major manufacturers rely on it and the trainline to get goods in and out of the area.
“This is a time to think out-of- the- box, to think about what the future holds for Moray as the development of Lossiemouth RAF base and the Moray Growth Deal become reality. Time to think about how we could adapt the trainline, improve our major roads like the A95 or how we and the rest of the North East can be best served by Inverness and Aberdeen airports.
“It is vital all councillors and the chief executive work together to ensure we have the connectivity with the rest of the UK we need to promote our region, attract tourists and, most of all, provide the jobs and opportunities for all our communities.
“The council and the SNP administration cannot let us down: we need to get this reponse agreed and submitted."
