Scottish Liberal Democrats unveil £1 billion a year to fix Scotland's crumbling infrastructure

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton today used a visit to the Highlands to unveil his party's plan to deliver £1 billion extra a year to "fix Scotland's crumbling infrastructure", saying a vote for the party would deliver new NHS buildings, get dangerous concrete out of classrooms and stop sewage dumping in Scotland's rivers.

The Liberal Democrats' spending plans will see Scotland benefit, on average, from an additional £1 billion in capital funding in each year of the next UK Parliament.

This big uplift would give the green light for infrastructure projects the length and breadth of the country. The party is proposing fixes including:

Extra investment in local hospitals and NHS equipment to bring down waiting lists and end long journeys for treatment;

A new fund help public authorities deal with the dangerous concrete crisis, making buildings safe and ending the scandal of crumbling classrooms and hospital wards;

Upgrades to tackle the dumping of sewage by the government-owned water company;

Speaking while campaigning in Inverness, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"People are waiting an age for treatment but the SNP have poured cold water on essential NHS projects all across Scotland. They have left staff working in buildings containing dangerous concrete and paused the National Treatment Centres that were supposed to catch-up on surgeries and diagnostics.

"A vote for the Liberal Democrats on Thursday is a vote to fix Scotland's crumbling and life-expired infrastructure. Our plans would deliver £1 billion more a year.

"It could get shovels in the ground for new hospitals in Fort William and Lerwick, build a new Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, and end long journeys for the young people and pregnant mums forced to travel hundreds of miles for care.

"This big investment from the Liberal Democrats could also fix cavernous potholes in the roads, get the sewage out of our rivers and give more children the best school buildings.

"People are moving away from the SNP and backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats because they want a local champion who will stand up for local health services, fix crumbling buildings, bring down waits and end long journeys for treatment."