GRANTS intended to help freight move to rail have been reprieved by the Scottish Government, although the Department for Transport is still withdrawing them in England and Wales. The decision has received a warm welcome north of the border.

The payments have been made in Britain since the 1970s, and provide kick-start capital for freight terminals. The transport minister Theresa Villiers had warned as long ago as last July that the payments -- known as Freight Facilities Grants -- could not be guaranteed because of spending cuts, and their withdrawal has now been confirmed.

But the Scottish Government has decided that they are too important to be axed, and has included provision for them in its Final Budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The Rail Freight Group said the decision to keep the grants was ‘good for the environment and good for Scotland's economy’.

The Group’s Scottish Representative, David Spaven, commented: “This is a great decision, and is tribute to the cross-party support for retaining an unsung but very successful scheme. I would like to give thanks to the Scottish Government and to all others involved, including the Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure & Climate Change Committee, and to Cathy Jamieson MSP for leading the helpful debate on FFG in Parliament on 13th January.

“Keeping Freight Facilities Grants will allow new rail schemes to take tens of thousands of heavy lorries off Scottish roads every year. It will mean not only relief for communities the length and breadth of Scotland but also support for economic development through providing a safe, sustainable and resilient alternative to road haulage.”