Business leaders back GARL

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Scotland's six leading businesses have demanded that the Scottish Government reinstate the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL).

In a joint letter to Finance Secretary John Swinney, the heads of CBI Scotland, FSB Scotland, IoD Scotland, Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Scottish Financial Enterprise warn that scrapping the project would cost jobs.

Business leaders are offering to meet with ministers to discuss the project further but Swinney, who has deemed GARL "desirable but not essential" has previously resisted calls to reinstate the project or use alternative means of funding it.

The letter states: "In our view, the GARL project is not only desirable but affordable. It has been cancelled only as a result of the Scottish Government's priorities lying elsewhere and Ministers' decisions not to use the full range of funding options and revenue streams with regard to infrastructure development."

CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said the project would ease conjestion and improve Glasgow's international connectivity.

He added: "It would also provide a much needed boost to the construction sector and create jobs during these tough economic times. We are very disappointed with the Scottish Government's decision to axe GARL"

Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron said: "Economic surveys across Europe have shown that there is a direct correlation between the strength of GDP and investment in vital infrastructure. Whilst we appreciate that the Scottish government cannot invest funds it doesn't have, we believe we must raise our vision and look more closely at other funding options."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray called the GARL a "defining moment" for the SNP over its commitment to economic recovery in Scotland.

He said: "The Finance Secretary and Alex Salmond now have the choice whether or not they reshape the budget to support jobs and the economy."

A Scottish Government spokesman said the decision was taken in the face of budget cuts from Westminster. He added: "The reality is that for the first time since devolution the Scottish Government is facing a real terms cut in the fixed budget available to us from the UK Government.

"It is now simply unaffordable to commit to Garl in the face of these Westminster-imposed cuts, when vital capital projects across Scotland, such as the M74 completion, M80 upgrade, Forth Replacement Crossing, AWPR, improvements to the A9, schools programme, Glasgow's National Indoor Sports Arena and the new Southern General Hospital, must be allocated the capital they need to go ahead."