Chamber pleads for protection of capital projects

The Londonderry Chamber of Commerce has warned that capital programmes must be protected from the Comprehensive Spending Review cuts.

Sinead McLaughlin, chief executive of the Chamber, said:

"Revenue cuts imposed by Westminster may be painful, but our government departments should be able to cope with these.  What the North West cannot cope with is any reduction in capital spending.  Our infrastructure is weak and desperately needs renewal and improvement.  Economic activity will not increase unless the conditions for businesses are improved - and that requires public spending on infrastructure.  Not only would that help our badly suffering construction industry, but it would also assist local businesses to expand and help attract inward investors."

Jim Sammon, President of the Chamber, said:

"The North West must have better road connections, both with Belfast and with Dublin. And we need those urgently.  Our rail link with Belfast must improve - and we would like that to be accelerated so that it happens before 2013 City of Culture and not subject to any delays.  Capital spending is needed at Altnagelvin, to improve local cancer care.  Foyle and Londonderry and other schools need new campuses.  We need the expansion of Magee. 

"The North West needs more to be spent on infrastructure than does any other part of Northern Ireland - and that is because of the terrible underinvestment here that has gone back many years.  The risk is that the North West may do worse from the Comprehensive Spending Review than any other part of Northern Ireland.  It is very important that Northern Ireland's politicians unite to protect capital programmes."