Media centre

Monday 24 Apr 2006

CHANGES TO PLANS FOR NORTH LANARKSHIRE STATIONS

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Proposals for the Airdrie to Bathgate Railway Line at Airdrie and Caldercruix are to be altered following an extensive public consultation. The original plans for Airdrie included replacing the existing car park with a multi storey car park.  At the new Caldercruix Station the proposals had included a car park to the north of the site.  Following the public meetings in January and after examining the responses from the public information hotline and website, Network Rail have today informed North Lanarkshire Council that they would no longer be including either car park proposal in the Bill that is expected to be submitted to Parliament in late May.  Network Rail intend however to reconfigure the existing car park at Airdrie to provide approximately an additional 25 spaces. Ron McAulay, Director, Scotland, said: “Around 1,600 people turned out to the public meetings and exhibitions we held as part of the formal consultation and we’ve been listening very carefully to their views. “Residents in North Lanarkshire told us they believed these particular car parks were unnecessary. We’ve reflected on their comments and are now altering our proposals. We think it’s important the plans strike a balance between achieving value for money and taking into account local concerns. “We’ve had a fantastic response to the formal consultation, but residents can still make their views known on the Airdrie to Bathgate proposals through the dedicated website.”