Scottish link to Netherlands
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• A freight ferry service linking Rosyth to Rotterdam is set to be one of the first major transport projects to be discussed by a devolved Scottish Parliament. Announced at a "Transport Planning and the Scottish Parliament" conference in Falkirk last week by Tory candidate John Young, the news received a mixed reponse from industry. It is unclear at this stage whether the service would be subsidised.
John Munro of Highlands and Islands Council said: "This will short-circuit the long haul down to the South for our hauliers and make them more profitable."
However, worries over the "sustainability and investment of the project" were raised by haulier John Russell of Glasgow.
Young said the Conservatives would also push for rear delivery points to be made mandatory at "all commercial properties".
Prospective Liberal Democrat member Donald Gorrie called for a series of transport regional committees to be created to discuss local issues. Andrew Morgan of the SNP said his party would support citycentre charging and an increase of freight to rail from road by improving rail infrastructure.
Scottish Office Minister for Transport Calum McDonald said a Scottish Parliament would be responsible for issuing railfreight grants. He added that a consultation paper on road user charging would be announced soon.