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A bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland is not the route to take to either boost the economy or improve connectivity, experts have warned the British Prime Minister.<\/p>\nA bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland is not the route to take to either boost the economy or improve connectivity, experts have warned the British Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
While Boris Johnson has repeatedly suggested a crossing over the Irish Sea, the Fraser of Allander Institute said the idea would not even feature in the top 10 infrastructure priorities.<\/p>\n
The economic think tank, based at the University of Strathclyde, was dismissive of the proposal in a scathing blog post.<\/p>\n
It comes just over a month after Downing Street confirmed a \u201crange of officials\u201d were looking at the idea \u2013 although Scottish Secretary Alister Jack suggested recently a tunnel could be a better option.<\/p>\n
The think tank said: \u201cFirstly, those hoping that building a bridge (tunnel or giant catapult even) will automatically be a catalyst for faster economic growth in both Scotland and Northern Ireland will be sorely disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The economics experts said there was \u201clittle international evidence\u201d to back up the idea of a causal positive link between infrastructure and growth, adding: \u201cBuild it and they will come is sadly not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
While they said \u201cwell-designed and targeted investment that helps to unblock barriers to connectivity can have an impact on growth\u201d, the post went on to add: \u201cOn a list of top 10 infrastructure priorities in Scotland (and the UK), this won\u2019t be one of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch higher priorities concern improving how people move around our cities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The post went on to note the proposed bridge or tunnel \u201cwon\u2019t actually link up centers of economic activity\u201d \u2013 saying travelers from Northern Ireland would \u201carrive in rural Dumfries and Galloway or Argyll, with a 90+ mile drive to the central belt (at least a further two and a half hours)\u201d.<\/p>\n
The think tank concluded: \u201cSo in short, it won\u2019t deliver the economic boost some claim, it isn\u2019t a priority, it would go to the wrong location, it wouldn\u2019t be consistent with climate change objectives and the money could be better spent on other things.<\/p>\n
\u201cApart from that, it\u2019s a cracking idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Johnson has repeatedly spoken about the prospect of a bridge, even though experts have warned the depth of the Irish Sea and the presence of dumped munitions would cause problems for any project.<\/p>\n
The project could cost a reported \u00a320 billion, although Mr Johnson has previously said it would \u201conly cost about \u00a315 billion\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Scottish Government said better uses could be found for the funds \u2013 with Transport Secretary Michael Matheson making this point in a recent letter to his UK counterpart Grant Shapps.<\/p>\n
SNP MSP Tom Arthur said: \u201cIf Boris Johnson has \u00a320 billion to spend on infrastructure then we\u2019re happy to send him some suggestions.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, as the Fraser of Allander Institute rightly point out, a road bridge \u2013 or a tunnel \u2013 across the Irish Sea is hardly a priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Arthur added: \u201cEveryone knows the Tories have no intention of delivering this \u2013 as always, this is just a way for Boris Johnson to distract from the failures of a decade of Tory austerity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Tories can\u2019t explain why the Fraser of Allander Institute are wrong then they should be laughed out of every room where they mention this daft plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottish Green transport spokesman John Finnie said: \u201cThis analysis shows how utterly ridiculous Boris Johnson\u2019s proposed bridge really is.\u201d<\/p>\n