A senior city councillor has accused the Scottish Government of misleading the public over its multimillion-pound plans to improve rail links between the north-east and the central belt.
Last week, as the UK Government unveiled the £250million City Region Deal, Holyrood ministers announced they would commit £200million to overhauling vital train networks between Aberdeen and Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The funding is part of a larger £254million investment in infrastructure across the country.
The announcement has been praised by business experts who say the proposals will help bolster the north-east economy for years to come.
But last night, Aberdeen’s finance chief claimed the government was using “smoke and mirrors” to make it appear the funding was new, when it had been on the table for years.
Finance convener Willie Young said the cash had been promised as far back as 2008.
He added: “The city deal will be a catalyst for moving Aberdeen forward and we welcome the £250million from the UK and Scottish governments.
“It appears that the £254million on offer from the Scottish Government is not new money after all, just a recycle of a decision made in 2008, again in 2011, and again in 2015 when the Scottish Government gave a commitment to fund the Montrose rail improvements via the Scottish infrastructure plan – it’s the typical smoke and mirrors from the SNP Government.
“All of us want to see road and rail infrastructure projects moving ahead, however for Aberdeen to move forward at pace we require the Scottish Government to confirm how they intend to help the councils, via the city deal, move forward with the £1billion of road and rail projects that are their responsibility as devolved matters.”
In the 2008 Infrastructure and Investment plan, “improved infrastructure and service provision” and “faster more frequent services” were promised between the north and the central belt.
And in the 2011 and 2015 plans, £250-600million of funding was outlined for rail improvements between Aberdeen and Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the project expected to run until 2030.
However, last night Transport Scotland insisted the funding was “new and additional”.
A spokesman said: “Demand for rail travel in Aberdeen, both in terms of commuter and long distance journeys, has grown significantly over the past 10 years and this is projected to continue.
“This is new and additional investment that demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in our railways and our commitment to Aberdeen, with clear benefits over and above those that will be realised from the current rail enhancements programme.”
