A series of workshops are to take place in May as part of consultation into “the need for better ‘multi-modal’ freight facilities to improve the links between airports, ports, rail and roads, and to help Scotland’s economic competitiveness”.
The workshops are being organised by Scott Wilson, on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
The half-day events in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, are being held to give stakeholders (particularly freight operators and business users of freight) an opportunity to discuss key issues and opportunities for providing improved freight facilities.
Mary McLaughlin of Scottish Enterprise said: “Our economy depends on good quality freight and cargo networks and this research will allow us to outline our needs for the next 20 years.”
Gavin Scott, head of policy for Scotland at the Freight Transport Association, said: “The importance of this study to the future of the freight industry in Scotland cannot be overstated. One of the main barriers to its growth is a lack of robust statistical information which can be used to inform future decisions on transport infrastructure which has historically largely been dictated by the concerns of non-freight traffic. Scotland’s transport system has to be able to support both and I am sure this study will go along way to redressing that balance.”
