Bridges or tunnels linking Argyll to central belt?

An open letter to Argyll and Bute councillors

Dear councillor, You may already know of the activities of the Cowal Fixed Link Working Group.

This group was established a couple of years ago comprising local councillors, community councillors and business people, with the support of Argyll and Bute MSP, Michael Russell.

The impetus came from the Argyll and Bute Economic Forum held in October 2014, which dramatically quantified the poor economic and population outlook for the county.

The group is well aware that any fixed link from Cowal to the central belt is a long term project that would need driving at a national level, and that there are many short and medium-term activities that should be taking place now to stem economic decline. A fixed link is, however, seen by our group as the one project that could transform the fortunes of this area for future generations. We are aware Cowal and other parts of south Argyll are not the only rural areas in Scotland with economic problems but, uniquely placed as we are on the edge of a major urban centre, the opportunity posed by such a link should be grasped.

The group has looked at a number of route options and is conscious this will be a significant capital project. We also believe that there will be a significant economic impact to the local, county and broader national economy if the project goes ahead. We are in discussion with the Fraser of Allander Institute at Strathclyde University to create an economic model of this impact. Within that, for example, we expect a major boost to tourism as the fixed tourism link will provide a convenient and reliable way to access this spectacular section of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

The group is also pleased that the idea of taking the fixed link project to the next step is supported by both the Argyll and Bute Economic Forum report from February 2016 and the HIE Argyll and Bute Transport Connectivity and Economy report from June 2016.

We need council support to move forward. Supporting this long-term project at this stage does not mean any less focus on pressing short-term issues, but provides a base that will, in truth, take many years to deliver. The Borders Railway project, for example, was at this stage in the late 1990s and did not open until 2015.

We expect the full Argyll and Bute Council will be asked to take a position on this project in the next few months. We can only repeat the conclusion of the motion approved by the Bute and Cowal Area Committee at their June 7 meeting: ‘Agrees to recommend to the council that Argyll and Bute Council participates with all other relevant partners in future discussions to assist with the delivery of what is clearly a national project.’

We request your support. All great achievements start with small steps and you can help with that first small step just now. David J McKenzie, chair, Cowal Fixed Link Working Group