Northern Ireland

Bridge between Ireland and Scotland dismissed as 'vanity project' in poll

Boris Johnson has suggested building bridges between Ireland and Scotland and across the English Channel
Boris Johnson has suggested building bridges between Ireland and Scotland and across the English Channel Boris Johnson has suggested building bridges between Ireland and Scotland and across the English Channel

A proposed bridge between Scotland and Ireland has been rejected in a poll as a "vanity project".

Adults across Britain and Northern Ireland were asked their views on the suggestion by former foreign minister Boris Johnson as well as a bridge connecting England and France .

The survey carried out by public sector procurement organisation Scape Group, which spoke with 2,000 people, found that almost six out of 10 viewed the two bridges as vanity projects - rising to almost two-thirds of Scots.

Less than a quarter also thought the economy would benefit from spending £140bn on the `Boris Bridges'.

Several possible routes have been proposed for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland
Several possible routes have been proposed for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland Several possible routes have been proposed for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland

The DUP has advocated a road bridge connecting Scotland and Northern Ireland, which could cost in the region of £20bn.

However, senior economist and former Ulster Unionist MLA Dr Esmond Birnie recently expressed doubt that the economic benefits could justify the costs.

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Mr Johnson, a leading Brexiteer, also called for a bridge stretching 34 miles across the English Channel, which experts suggest could cost as much as £120bn.

The Tory MP said the bridges would help boost trade and mitigate the impact of Brexit on the UK.

But according to the poll, the vast majority of young people would opt instead to construct underground transport systems for 11 major cities around the UK.

Scape Group chief executive Mark Robinson said people support "targeted investment in less glamorous developments that will deliver economic benefits".

"Poor transport infrastructure is hampering our productivity - road congestion alone costs our economy £9bn a year," he said.

"Infrastructure is vital to the effective and efficient functioning of society. Investing in underground systems across the UK would be an effective way of creating a productive and functioning workforce - and levelling the playfield with our European peers. "

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