September Column

Written by Malcolm Bruce MP on Fri 14th Sep 2007

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Offshore Europe highlights new phase in the North Sea

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Offshore Europe once again showed the international dimension of the offshore oil and gas industry in our area and its global reach.

The industry is moving into a new phase. The activity in the UK is sustaining a growing export industry of products and expertise. The oil majors are scaling down their activities in favour of newer smaller operators dedicated to squeezing more oil and gas out.

There is growing recognition of the skills shortages and the need to scale up training and attract new people.

Most of what is located here is here because of the local markets. As more of what they do is international, if we cannot remain competitive there is a risk that investment could go elsewhere.

We need more land for development and improved infrastructure to achieve this.

What we do not need is a spat between London and Edinburgh about the control of UK oil and gas. The oil industry operates in all kinds of political environments and keeps its own council.

The British Government has never been particularly positive about the long term perspective of the industry and tends to see it as source of revenue rather than a major driver of the industrial economy and employment.

A partnership between London and Edinburgh to maximise the potential of the industry long term and its technological spin-offs is the best way to ensure that our biennial oil and gas conference and exhibition and the industry that sustains it goes from strength to strength.

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Royal patronage for local bakers - but price challenges ahead

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Ross the Bakers' new factory in Inverurie was graced with a visit from the Princess Royal last week for the formal opening; Nick Nairn having opened the shop and playground earlier in the summer.

It is good to see local businesses going from strength to strength from small beginnings in Premnay, through the premises in Port Elphinstone to the modern state of the art facilities at Highclere Business Park and shops across the area.

Those customers enjoying their afternoon tea and cakes in the coffee shop certainly gave the Princess a warm welcome. Apparently there are no fewer than sixteen places where you can get a cup of tea in the town and they all seem to be busy.

Bakers are just one of the food sectors that are facing the challenge of rising commodity prices. Butter has doubled in price in recent months and this year's poor harvest is set to push up wheat prices.

Farmers have been calling for supermarkets and food producers to recognise that people will have to pay more if supplies are to be maintained.

This could be the kind of shock that brings home the need to have some strategic food plan rather than leave ourselves entirely at the mercy of world markets.

Of course some North East farmers may be smiling if their harvest is good at a time of high prices but the fact is that farmers are mostly price takers rather than piece makers.

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Don bridge must go ahead

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The publication of a report by Edinburgh planners suggesting that the proposed Third crossing of the Don is neither needed nor justified is quite breathtaking,

The report says that the proposed bridge is in breach of the local transport plan and structure plan - but these are both years out of date and being comprehensively reviewed.

It also ignores the history of the politics of this bridge. The former Grampian Regional Council proposed it years ago for the simple reason that tens of thousands of houses were being built or planned north of the Don in Bridge of Don but also Ellon, Balmedie, Potterton, Newburgh etc.

The Labour party and their SNP allies at the time united to block it.

The houses have now been built but no extra crossing has been provided. It is not therefore a choice between a bridge and public transport developments.

Major developments in transport infrastructure take years to process. The Western Peripheral Route has already been delayed by the new Scottish Government and may be further delayed by the extensive public enquiry process.

I would be happy to support the reopening of the Buchan railway line or the construction of a super tram across the city but under our democratic planning laws this could take decades even if proposals were to get off the ground.

Cancelling the Don Bridge will not unlock some super public transport plan. It will just guarantee gridlock. I will be working with the City Council to ensure that the bridge can go ahead.

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Tourism enterprise for Huntly welcomed

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At the other end of my constituency it is good to see a lively tourism action group in Huntly coming forward with imaginative ideas to attract more visitors to our area.

The suggestion is to open up a network of trails around Strathbogie and Cabrach to link to the Speyside Way and the Cairngorms National Park.

There are over a hundred miles of potential trails. Ninety five per cent are existing routes and are in reasonable condition. More than one route could potentially make the connection through and the cost seems reasonable.

If the idea gains support there is a lot be done in terms of agreements with landowners, some trail restoration, setting up signs and marketing the route.

We still have considerable difficulty getting visitors to our area even from the rest of Scotland. I commend this initiative and hope it makes progress but I would like to see some more vigorous development of tourism promotion where Scotland lags behind the competition.

I am very disappointed, for example, that the Tourism Information Centre in Inverurie will close for the winter. The reason seems to be that the operation is not sufficiently commercial during the winter months but therein lies the problem. Tourist offices should, I believe, be treated as a public service rather than required to wash their face with ancillary sales and bookings etc.

Many small businesses are not member of Visit Scotland as they perceive the charges as being too high for the service they receive. But that means visitors do not get all the information of local attractions creating a vicious downward cycle.

The core services of providing tourist information and marketing Scotland abroad should, I believe be publicly funded because of the huge benefit tourism brings.

That would not stop service providers jointly funding promotions through Visit Scotland but it would make the service comprehensive helping smaller companies and visitors to Scotland in equal measure.

The North East (with the exception of Royal Deeside) is off the tourism map compared with Edinburgh and the Highlands yet those visitors who do penetrate to the region enjoy its variety. We need to do more for ourselves but we also deserve more imaginative support from the Edinburgh based tourism authorities.

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Route cancellations setback for airport

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The cancellation of Globespan's flights to a number of continental destinations has caused some dismay to passengers and those of us who have been watching the growth of services with pleasure.

It may well be that the decision has more to do with the lack of demand or failure of Globespan's business expectations than the costs of operation but it is nevertheless a setback.

Airport charges are commercially confidential and Aberdeen Airport claims theirs are at a 15 year low and are being cut in real terms every year. Nevertheless if we are to attract and retain new services we have to be commercial and the population base for Aberdeen Airport is clearly smaller than other regional airports.

However, proportionately more people will fly from Aberdeen as surface options are fewer. I hope therefore our airport will continue to market itself and help secure new destinations and invest in new services.

The runway extension and terminal upgrades are a start but local people are looking for more.

8 September 2007