Local politicians are cocka hoop over Stena's announcement that it will build a new port at Old House Point north of Cairnryan, largely, one suspects, because they are relieved that Stena won't be pulling out of the area altogether with the loss of so many jobs. But has nobody (apart from SAYLSA) stopped to ask how this squares with both the UK and Scottish Governments' stated policy of shifting the emphasis away from road to rail in the coming years? Non rail connected ports will surely be at a massive disadvantage in years to come. Worse still, the possible loss of the Stranraer Town Station site altogether which now appears to be very much on the cards, will prevent any chance of re-opening it as a railhead for container traffic from Cairnryan, ironic, when you consider that one of the UK's biggest road haulage businesses, Stobarts, can apparently see the writing on the wall and have started investing in rail setting up their own Rail division (Stobart Rail). So, one might ask, why are the decision makers and politicians apparently unable to see the same writing on the wall? Ports like Holyhead, fully rail connected, will surely reap the benenfits to Scotland's cost over the coming decade or two. Peter Jeal, SAYLSA member.

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