Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BORIS PLAN A BRIDGE TOO FAR SAY TOP ACADEMICS
€23bn crossing ‘won’t help economy’
A BRIDGE between Scotland and Northern Ireland is not the way to boost the economy or improve connectivity, experts have warned.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly suggested a crossing over the Irish Sea.
However, the Fraser Of Allander Institute said the idea would not even feature in the top 10 infrastructure priorities.
The economic think tank, based at the University of Strathclyde, was dismissive of the proposal in a scathing blog post.
It comes just over a month after Downing Street confirmed a “range of officials” were looking at the idea – although Scottish Secretary Alister Jack recently suggested a tunnel could be a better option.
In a blog post statement, the academics dismissed the Tory chief’s €23billion plans.
It said: “Firstly, those hoping building a bridge [tunnel or giant catapult even] will automatically be a catalyst for faster economic growth in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be sorely disappointed.”
And the experts explained there was
YESTERDAY
THE owners of Barry’s Amusements have announced they will be open for business across the 2020 season.
Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks over the future of the popular Portrush attraction.
The historic Co Antrim arcade was
“little international evidence” to back up the idea of a causal positive link between infrastructure and growth.
It added: “Build it and they will come is sadly not the case.”
The post admitted “welldesigned and targeted investment that helps to unblock barriers to connectivity can have an impact on growth”.
But it went on to say: “On a list of top 10 infrastructure priorities, this won’t be one of them. Much higher priorities listed for sale in November. In a statement released yesterday on behalf of owners, the Trufelli family said the business remains for sale.
However, they added they are open for business throughout Easter and the summer months. It read: “The Trufelli concern improving how people move around our cities.”
It also noted the proposed bridge or tunnel “won’t actually link up centres of economic activity”, claiming travellers from Northern Ireland would “arrive in r u r a l Dumfries and Galloway or Argyll, with a 90+ mile drive to the central belt.” Scottish Green transport spokesman John Finnie said: “This analysis shows how utterly ridiculous Boris Johnson’s proposed bridge really is.” family wishes to announce that Barry’s Amusements will open for business as usual across the 2020 season.
“The business remains for sale as a going concern and, while there has been strong interest, this process takes time.”