Media centre

Tuesday 28 Feb 2006

HUNDREDS EXPRESS VIEWS ON PROPOSED RAIL LINK

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Hundreds of people have made their voices heard on the proposed reopening of the Airdrie -Bathgate rail link at a series of public meetings and exhibitions. Network Rail organised nine meetings along the route, as well as exhibitions in Edinburgh and Glasgow, to gauge residents’ views on the plans. Now the information is being collated and reviewed as the next stage of the project begins. Ron McAulay, Director, Scotland, said: “We’ve had a marvellous response to the proposals from a wide variety of people. We organised the public meetings to tell people about the plans, and just as importantly, to listen to residents’ views. “Each response has been documented and we will be reviewing them all before the final proposals are submitted to parliament in Spring. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to come and look at the plans and talk to us about them.” More than 1,600 people attended the public meetings and exhibitions and around 3,000 leaflets have been given to community councils, community wardens, local interest groups and individuals. In addition, the rail link’s website, www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk, was visited more than 3,200 times during the formal consultation. Mr McAulay added: “One of the key benefits of re-establishing the rail link will be better access to employment, health and educational opportunities between West Lothian and North Lanarkshire. Communities are central to this rail link and so meeting residents has been a vital part of the consultation process.” Although the formal stage of consultation is now complete, people can still make their views known by visiting www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk or by phoning 0131 556 1516.