General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 20 June 2024.
Sue Webber
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide further details of the progress that it has made regarding the delivery of a railway station in Winchburgh, including the date by which it anticipates the business case and cost will be finalised. (S6O-03615)
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
As Sue Webber will be aware, the proposal is included in the council’s development plan. It was always a developer-led proposal, and it is one that I welcome, as I note the MSP for the Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, does, too. There have been calls for the Government to get involved because of a lack of progress in taking the project forward for various reasons. I am happy to respond to those calls by bringing the parties together, which will allow progress to happen.
In April, I met Winchburgh Developments, West Lothian Council and Network Rail to discuss how they can support progress towards the delivery of a station in Winchburgh. All parties agreed to several actions, and Transport Scotland officials are investigating the development of the business case. I am aware that the council has now written to the city region deal project office to explore opportunities through the funding process.
The Scottish Government remains committed to progressing the proposal, and it is supporting and encouraging the council and the developer to continue engaging with the Government on the matter.
Sue Webber
Conservative
I thank the Minister for that response, and I remind him that no developer has ever led the delivery of a new station anywhere in Scotland.
The economic and environmental case for a train station at Winchburgh is undeniable. Passengers will save £2.4 million, and there will be £3.5 million of decongestion benefits. There will also be almost half a million fewer car journeys every year. The list goes on, as the minister acknowledged in his letter to Edward Mountain, the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
There is keen interest in building a station at Winchburgh, and it remains of significant public interest. The next meeting is in five days. The people of Winchburgh deserve much more. Can we expect a positive announcement and significant progress to be made before we return to Parliament in September?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
To correct what the member has just said, East Renfrewshire Council is acting as the lead proposer for Balgray station. The council has obtained the required funding through the successful application to the city region deal and transport officials have provided East Renfrewshire Council with strategic support for the development of the outline business case and the final business case process. It is not correct to say that a council cannot lead on such a programme.
The Winchburgh proposal is a developer-led programme. The Government will support it in every way that we can, but the local authority and the developer have to get around the table so that we can make progress.
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