Friday September 13th 2024
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Uncertainty surrounds the future of a much-heralded extension to the Borders Railway after £10m in funding was placed on hold.
A feasibility study is earmarked at putting on track the extension to Hawick, Newcastleton and on to Carlisle.
But funding to cover the costs of the study has stalled as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government looks to plug a £22b ‘black hole’ in public finances that ministers says was left by the previous Tory administration.
The delay is to consider the findings of ongoing capital investment review over the costs of several major projects.
Scottish Borders Council convener and Hawick & Hermitage Watson McAteer admitted the latest development was a concern.
He said: “It is a concern given what was a positive direction of travel and it does introduce an element of uncertainty.
“The letter from the minister does not say no to the funding but it is annoying that we have to wait.
“Scottish Borders Council did not want to wait and has recently ratified funding for the appointment of a senior project manager.”
Stalling of the feasibility funding comes after the UK government was also accused of “dragging their heels” over funding needed for pushing ahead with the appointment of the project manager.
SBC recently agreed the three-year appointment, at the cost of £220k.
The successful candidate will be tasked with pushing ahead with the proposed railway line extension from Tweedbank to Carlisle.
They will lead the delivery of the business case and feasibility work associated with the extension.
Both the UK and Scottish Governments have previously agreed this appointment could be funded equally between the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Scottish Government as part of the commitment already made by ministers to jointly invest up to £10 million in the delivery of the Borders Railway extension feasibility work via the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
Scottish Government has already allocated its £110,00 contribution towards the £220k post but the UK Government is yet to do the same.
The original 98-mile (158km) Waverley Route between Edinburgh and Carlisle closed in 1969 as part of the Beeching cuts to the UK rail network.
A 30-mile (48km) section, between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank, reopened in September 2015, at a cost of £294m.
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