This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding to take freight off roads
21/03/2007
A £2.3 million grant to improve freight handling at Inverness has the potential to replace 800,000 lorry miles every year, it was said today.
The Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) awarded to Inverness Harbour Trust will see freight transferred by sea which would otherwise have been transported by road to destinations across the UK.
It is estimated that the project will remove 800,000 lorry miles from Scotland's roads each year.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"I am delighted that Inverness Harbour Trust have seized the opportunity to use government funding to switch so much heavy freight from road to sea. This is an investment in Inverness, in the Highlands, and one that benefits the environment.
"We have all seen the amount of congestion caused by lorries on roads, not only in and around Inverness, but across the whole of the North East. This funding will mean we see less lorries on our roads, meaning less congestion and less damage to the environment.
"I would like to see more and more Scottish businesses think about their freight priorities. If they do, we will see great benefits for our environment and remove even more traffic from Scotland's congested roads.
"This devolved government is committed to getting more freight off Scotland's roads and onto rail and water. We aim to do more, working with local businesses, in the future.
Bill Smith, Chairman of Inverness Harbour Trust, said:
"This is very welcome news as we have been working on this for some time with the Scottish Executive. We can now move ahead with the freight element of our planned port development.
"Small ports have a vital role in taking freight off the road and we hope to start a container feeder service from the city to East coast ports of Scotland and England."
Inverness Harbour Trust is an independent port authority. Located at the mouth of the River Ness, it is one of the most sheltered natural harbours in Scotland, catering for oil tanker traffic, timber, paper pulp, coal, processed timber, grains and a host of other dry cargo.
There are around 30 trust ports in Scotland.
Awards of FFG are based on the environmental benefits which are generated by transferring freight from road to rail and water.
Since 1999, total funding of almost £67m has been given to various companies to switch freight from road to rail and water.
The FFG budget for 2006-07 is £12.9 million.