Scotland's Labour Party has challenged the SNP Government over why £29m has been spent on the cancelled Glasgow Airport Link, the BBC has reported.

In 2009, Ministers made a decision not to continue with the transport link, but it is understood millions have been spent on various costs, including land and compensation.

The £300m rail project would have linked Glasgow to the Renfrewshire airport and it was said the infrastructure would improve the surrounding economy.

-- Advertisement --

Scottish Labour's infrastructure spokesman, James Kelly, is quoted as saying: "This is an astonishing waste of our money and exposes the financial lunacy of cancelling a rail link which was supported by the business community as a boost to the economy.

"It begs the question why was the Scottish government so keen to get rid of the land given the huge losses it has incurred.

"Surely as a country we have an aspiration to link our biggest city and our biggest airport - why did they not hold on to the land so it could built in future instead of pursuing a scorched earth policy?

"The Scottish government has serious questions to answer about this colossal waste of money and the way this project was handled."

A Government spokesman said the costs of the project had been "in the public domain for years", but added that around £176m of capital expenditure had been saved as a result of not proceeding with the project.

(JP/CD)