VIEW FROM THE CHAMBER
Lochaber Chamber of Commerce last week welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to discuss key transport issues at our Premium Members’ Business Forum meeting.
Michael Matheson MSP addressed a capacity audience of premium members to update us on the Scottish Government’s priorities and progress on the pressing transport issues facing Lochaber businesses.
The meeting was held at Ferguson Transport and Shipping’s head office and representatives from most of our 20 premium member businesses attended.
The Cabinet Secretary explained the extent to which demand for major transport infrastructure greatly exceeds available resources and the corresponding challenge of prioritising a long list of options.
He spoke about the need to take a national overview, which will take the form of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2. This will be published in spring 2021 and will set out priorities for the next 10 to 20 years.
Frazer Coupland, chief executive officer of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘We had a really productive meeting with Michael Matheson. There was a great deal of discussion around options for shifting modes of transport and increasing use of rail and sea for freight, as well as travel options for local journeys.’
Lochaber Chamber of Commerce works hard to provide a direct way for our membership to engage directly with key decision makers through a variety of events.
Our regular business forum meetings have helped to make sure that those in government understand the issues affecting businesses and communites in Lochaber.
Over the past year alone, we’ve had productive meetings with Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation; Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills; and Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber in Westminster.
All of these meetings help to ensure our business and community needs are on the agenda of those in power.
To find out more about how joining the Chamber could help your business, call us on 01397 705765, pop in to 15 High Street, Fort William, or join us at our next networking lunch. Visit www. lochaberchamber.co.uk to see what’s going on.