South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has accused the UK Government of ‘yet more empty rhetoric’ following media reports that plans for a bridge between Portpatrick and Larne have now been formally scrapped.

According to several media outlets, a study examining if such a project was possible is likely to advise against the bridge, with the UK Government in agreement that the plan should be shelved.

Colin Smyth said: “This is an example of yet more empty rhetoric from the UK Government and what is completely shocking is that they spent money on a feasibility study into building a structure which no-one truly believed could be built.

“Presumably someone has finally realised that we don’t have a Mediterranean climate in the Irish sea and any bridge would have been closed for half of the year, not to mention the small issue of millions of tonnes of explosives lying in the path of any bridge structure in a deep channel.

“If these latest reports are accurate, absolutely no one will be surprised it’s been axed.

“Hopefully we can now move on and get some answers from both the Scottish and UK Governments over investment in the A75 and A77.

“As I said from the start, if the UK Government has billions of pounds to spend on transport links in the south west of Scotland, it would do better to spend the cash on reopening the Dumfries to Stranraer rail line and dualling the A75 and A77.

“Despite the importance of Cairnryan Ferry Port, road and rail links have been neglected again and again. Talk of building a bridge or a tunnel might grab headlines but people who live in the area and those who use the ferries on a regular basis need real solutions now to the many transport problems which have existed for years.”