A STORMONT minister has expressed doubt about a bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland, saying Boris has a long history of “vanity” projects which do not come to fruition.
The feasibility of building a bridge or tunnel between Northern Ireland and Scotland is to be examined as part of a review of transport connections across the UK.
Professor Alan Dunlop’s £20 billion idea for a connection between Larne and Portpatrick was first revealed in The National in 2018.
READ MORE: Bridge from Scotland to Ireland could create 'Celtic powerhouse'
Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said the cash, if delivered by Boris Johnson, would be better used on other priorities.
“He has a long past of vanity bridges which he has never been able to get over the line,” she said.
“If there was an endless pot of money, if we had strategic investment in our strategic infrastructure network, I would be happy to look at this.”
She was challenged at the Stormont assembly by DUP member Jonathan Buckley, who recalled the sceptics ahead of the building of the Channel Tunnel.
He urged the minister to consider how the project could go forward.
She said: “I would not want to be in a position of squandering £20 million on a bridge that neither the Scottish Government nor I, as our infrastructure minister, see as a priority.”
READ MORE: Boris Johnson revives plan for Scotland-Northern Ireland bridge
Downing Street has said that a review, led by Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy, will explore the “cost, practicality and demand” for a fixed link, which some critics have already dismissed as impractical and a waste of money which would be better spent elsewhere.
Johnson has mooted the bridge idea several times and the Government confirmed earlier this year that it was being discussed by officials.
The transport study will set out advice on a “wide range of possible options” to improve the quality and availability of links across the UK, Downing Street said.
The review comes after Johnson, in a speech in July on how to kick-start the economy following the coronavirus pandemic, pledged £100m for 29 road projects.
The Scottish Government has also branded proposals for the link a “vanity project”, with Nicola Sturgeon calling for the money to be sent to Scotland and Northern Ireland for more urgent infrastructure upgrades.
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