ICE launch Manifesto for Infrastructure Scotland

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Scotland set out challenge to policy makers.

The Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland has launched its Manifesto for Infrastructure in Scotland today. The Institution hopes that it will encourage policy-makers to pledge support for infrastructure maintenance, development and delivery for the benefit of the country, in the run-up to May’s Scottish Parliament elections.

The report acknowledges that whatever the result in May, vital infrastructure should be at the heart of Scotland’s economic plans and specific policy interventions required to support Scotland’s infrastructure ambitions.

Following on from the release in November of their State of the Nation Infrastructure Report, the ICE’s has set out its own vision of what needs to be done to ensure Scotland has transport, energy, waste, water and flooding networks fit for the future.

The ICE manifesto highlights where it feels support is needed under three broad categories: resilience, delivery and skills, and asks all policy-makers from all political parties to commit to:

• Enhancing the resilience of all networks to climate and demographic change, preparing systems to meet future needs and challenges
• Achieving a long-term, cross-party vision for infrastructure, underpinned by sustainable investment, and delivering maximum value for public money
• Upskilling Scotland’s workforce and grow a talent pool of engineers to meet our future infrastructure needs.

Included in the eight-page document is an analysis of Scotland’s future infrastructure needs, and a ten-point plan of how these commitments can be achieved.

Recent widespread flooding in the North East and Borders and closures of the Forth Road Bridge and M8 motorway have underlined the importance of maintenance investment. The severe weather conditions have created storm-damage and disruption and tested the resilience of plans.

Director of ICE Scotland, Sara Thiam, says: “How we travel and bring water and heat to our homes and businesses is the result of historic investment decisions, but we have an aging infrastructure and need to look to the future.

“High quality infrastructure is the foundation of civilised living, and allows us to thrive in a competitive world. It drives change and regeneration, and supports our schools, hospitals and homes. It underpins sustainable economic growth, positive social outcomes, and our ability to compete internationally.

“ICE Scotland’s manifesto highlights the issues which will shape the future delivery of infrastructure in Scotland, and offers practical ways forward, and we ask policy-makers to commit to the aims and join the discussion of how we deliver the future infrastructure which Scotland requires.”

 

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