Scottish Conservative politicians for the Falkirk District Stephen Kerr MSP and Cllr James Bundy have thrown their support behind a bid which would bring a Freeport to Grangemouth.
The bid has the potential to generate up to 50,000 new green jobs and create new clean technologies and renewable energy manufacturing in Scotland. The ambitious bid proposal which was submitted in June 2022 to the Scottish and UK Governments will make a significant contribution to the re-industrialisation of Scotland, unlocking £6bn of private and public investment.
It would look like a belt of new investment across the Forth Valley, reaching from Leith in Edinburgh and Rosyth in Fife through to Grangemouth. It would result in significant investment and the development of new technologies right on our doorstep, such as Hydrogen power and offshore wind.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports Group who met the group of MSPs today in Edinburgh, said:
“A Forth Green Freeport will accelerate large-scale investment in new infrastructure, technology and skills training to catapult Scotland’s just transition to a cleaner and greener future.
“After receiving strong backing from our local authority partners, private businesses and education providers, it’s great to see so much support for our bid across all five political parties.
“This is an unmissable opportunity to support the delivery of the country’s net zero ambitions. Our politicians are giving their backing to a bid that will enable Scotland to reduce emissions while creating technologies and jobs for the future.
“Along the Forth corridor, there will be billions of investment for renewable offshore wind, alternative fuel manufacturing and our ship building industry, which will reindustrialise Scotland and spread the benefits of trade widely into the communities that need it the most. Our committed consortium is confident that a Forth Green Freeport will deliver a radical transformation for the Firth of Forth and Scotland.”
Stephen Kerr MSP said:
“We need to see the UK and Scottish Governments working together to make this project a reality. It would bring many jobs to communities across the Forth Valley and the investment would make a real difference to people’s lives. I support the bid 100% and I am glad to have my colleague Cllr James Bundy on board as well.”
Cllr James Bundy said:
“Forth Freeport has the potential to transform the Falkirk area for the better by investing in high-skilled jobs, investing in town centre regeneration and investing in green technology.
Sustainable economic and environmental development is at the heart of Conservative vision for Falkirk. If this bid is successful, it’ll take us one-step closer to delivering this vision, and that is why I am delighted to throw my support behind this bid.”
