A bridge to Scotland is not just a ‘unionist umbilical’ project, but a strategic bridge to Europe and to the world

(Read here: Ben Lowry: ‘The Boris bridge to Scotland plan is a nice dream but a distant one and a distraction from other priorities for unionism and infrastructure’)

The idea is challenged less than the feasibility study.

Ireland and Northern Ireland especially need better and big infrastructure — when the UK prime minister commits to exploring the idea; that former Taoisigh and Irish government are interested — surely it is time to open minds beyond there here and now.

Imagine a simple road bridge connecting to Scotland.

Add to that a train. No, that doesn’t remotely get me up and awake in the morning.

Now consider the strategic challenges we face here and across Europe: real, frequent and aggressive water shortages; energy dependence on Russian gas or oil; the climate challenges we’re facing now; how about an impact of Covid on transit and transport?

Think of the technology coming online: autonomous (self driving) vehicles; the smart cities through amazing stuff like IoT (Internet of Things); and wanting to have freer, connected European economy?

The ‘bridge to Scotland’ can be so much more than an extension of the A8. And it must be. Far too long, the west of the Bann and the east has been uninvested. North and south connections are pro-car yet high speed rail is batted back. 

We can maximise the benefits to using Northern Ireland’s rather Belfast-centric motorways — beyond Dungannon; linking to M and A/N routes across to the west — and diversifying the arterial network that upgrades to the Londonderry-Dublin road that have been called for for years.

Picture the island as a big number 8 — a northern circle and a southern equivalent, meeting at a middle band: it challenges the very Dublin m-way focus of sprigs out. Same in Northern Ireland. A super-infra project connecting Scotland feeds our need to invest in whole-island rather than what connects Belfast or what connects into Dublin.

But I don’t want you to think about simple transport benefits. Think about our strategic challenges into the 2030s — water and energy, automation and connectivity.

The feasibility must have its core: tidal lagoon energy; marine habitat and marine farming; desalination and connections of the Irish and British waterways — yes canals are in this; considered as an extension to coastal harbours of both Scotland and here. 

This is a necessity to any connectivity bridge — we owe that to this island and to the funders: the bridge must generate true strategic value and revenue, along with many of its associated beneficial connections.

Yes, I am saying it must be a whole project, not simply a rail/road bridge from Larne to Scotland. That is the main complaint from the detractors that it’s a vanity project.

The feasibility of the bridge project must not be framed on simple logistics terms — it is a massive potential benefit across these islands.

Connectivity from Cork to Berlin, via the bridge; using autonomous vehicles, travelling by high speed rail, by bicycle, perhaps even by a canal or waterway.

The bridge could provide huge fresh water in a testing future by desalination. It could deliver on the trials of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon – clean, green, secure energy.

We cannot limit this feasibility study’s scope.

The population of Ireland and Britain is growing. We will need across these islands to find homes and space for a population the size of Belfast every year for the foreseeable future.

Water, energy and jobs matter — the bridge could be part of the solution.

It needs support for a full and wide feasibility: but not just as a ‘unionist umbilical’ project, but as a massive, strategic investment that will return security to us on energy, connectivity, water and jobs.

• Robert Park advises businesses

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor