Views
Budget ignores case for air terminal expansion - for The Inverness Courier
LAST week John Swinney presented the new SNP government's first budget. The document sets out what money will be spent and where during the next three years — right up until the eve of the next set of Scottish parliamentary elections in April 2011.
The Scottish government is faced with the same tightening of public spending that the UK government is dealing with as tax revenues are not expected to rise at the same pace in future years.
Overall, the budget has both pros and cons. Promises to write off student debt and deliver 1000 extra police have been set to one side or fudged, while apparent progress with fixing the unfair Council Tax at least for the next year is welcome though it remains to be seen if funds will be provided to prevent local authorities having to make real cuts in service.
But the real concerns for the Highlands lay more in what was not said. Buried in the budget — for it was not in fact mentioned at all — was the apparent decision to put back to an unspecified future date consideration of the plans to expand the terminal at Inverness Airport. This was one of a number of Highland transport projects — dualling the A9 and the Inverness trunk road link being others — that sadly did not seem to merit a mention.
When clarity was sought on the airport's future, the Scottish government, far from denying funding to the thorough and well-presented proposals recently submitted by Highlands and Islands Airports, claimed that it had not received an adequate business case. It would therefore "not be prudent" to proceed.
Like many others, I took part in extensive consultation on the airport's plans and it is far-fetched to suggest that they did not constitute an adequate business case. In fact, they illustrated very well the crucial strategic importance of the airport — not just to Inverness itself but as a key hub for the whole Highlands and Islands economy.
Right across our area, the logistics of travel represent a major constraint on business. Air travel is not the only solution, but for tourism and local businesses alike, air links to London and elsewhere are essential to our economic growth. Without the high speed rail links that other countries in Europe have, air travel is the economic lifeline to the south — as well as the important links within the Highlands and Islands.
All users of Dalcross know that its facilities are already under strain at peak times and passenger numbers continue to grow. New routes, among them environmentally efficient direct flights to the continent, need expanded capacity to accommodate them in the medium term as does our ability to capture the future economic growth that would be stimulated by a bigger terminal.
I hope ministers will reconsider. The decision by the previous Executive to buy-out the airport PFI deal has helped the management to bring in new services, new routes, and expand passenger numbers — as well as allowing them to develop the carefully worked out and fully justified plans for expansion. The PFI buy-out had the support of Highland politicians of all parties, and those same people have spoken up in favour of the expansion plans. We now all need to work together to persuade ministers to change their minds — in the interests of Inverness and the Highlands.
NATURE RESERVE
On a much happier note, I was delighted to hear that the Merkinch Greenspace Group has been successful in its bid to have a section of our city's shoreline — from South Kessock Pier to the Clachnaharry sea lock — designated as a Local Nature Reserve.
I enjoyed being shown some of what the area has to offer by members of the group earlier this year. The enthusiasm of the local community means that an area of outstanding wildlife value will not only be protected but promoted and enjoyed by people from across the Highland Capital and beyond.
The new reserve is a great reminder that enjoying and interacting with the wealth of wildlife on our doorstep can play a big part in securing its future.
Posted on: 20/11/2007
