Boris said no to the meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Union Connectivity Working Group

In a letter to the local authority, the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Robin Walker MP, indicated that the prime minister was unable to attend a virtual meeting with the council group.

The council’s chief executive officer, Anne Donaghy, wrote to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in June regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Union Connectivity Review.

The purpose of this review is to examine how to improve road, rail, air and sea links between all four UK regions and to bring funding forward to accelerate major infrastructure projects.

The Prime Minister has highlighted the possible development of a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

An interim report on the Union Connectivity Review has been published by Sir Peter Hendy, who has been asked to assess the feasibility of a fixed transport link between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and focused on the technical feasibility of such construction. Will go

The Union Connectivity Review has the potential to press the fast forward button on significant economic growth and prosperity in Northern Ireland and across the UK, elected representatives in Mid and East Antrim have said.

The report acknowledged several key concerns, including the need for higher capacity and faster connections on the A75 in Scotland from the ferry port in Cairnian to the M6 ​​corridor in England for cargo passengers to and from Northern Ireland.

The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is part of a North Channel Partnership body, consisting of councilors and officers from the Scottish Council and the local authority working with other bodies, including ferry companies, to develop common interests such as ports and infrastructure. Progress is in progress for the long-awaited upgrade of the A75/77 routes in Scotland, which the local authority believes will also be economically beneficial to Central and East Antrim.

Mr Walker said he would be willing to continue discussions with councilors following the publication of Sir Peters’ final report, which is expected this summer.

Councilors have also been advised that no decision has yet been made on a Freeport for Northern Ireland.

The Council has also written to Finance Minister Conor Murphy urging him to pursue discussions with HM Treasury for Northern Ireland Freeport. The local authority has expressed interest in Freeport being the location for post Brexit and last July submitted a response to the UK consultation on Freeport.

Eight new Freeports in England have already been announced by the government and are expected to be in operation by the end of this year. Freeports will benefit from simplified customs procedures, duty suspension on goods and a package of tax reliefs. Sites can be located inland as well as near ports.

A letter from Sir Peter Hendy to the City Council stated that the UK Government is working with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver a Freeport in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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