West Lothian councillor calls on Government to fund station
A veteran councillor in West Lothian called on the Scottish Government to 'put its money where its mouth is' on plans for a railway station in Winchburgh.
As the council and Winchburgh Developments prepare to meet potential funders of the long-delayed station, Labour's Linlithgow councillor Tom Conn called on the SNP government to 'stop ducking and diving.'
Designs were revealed on Friday with the news that a planning application would come to West Lothian Council 'imminently.'
A report to the Executive described the recently published Scottish Government Programme for Government 2025/26.
It said: 'The programme makes specific reference to a railway station at Winchburgh in the section on A Safe Sustainable Transport System for Scotland.'
Having committed to that, Councillor Conn called for a commitment to meet costs of the £22.5m development.
Welcoming the news that progression had been made in the ten months of cooperation between the council, Winchburgh developments, Transport Scotland Network Rail – councillors echoed concerns that there have been no concrete guarantees of funding.
Councillor Conn said: 'There needs to be public money invested directly by Scottish Government in Winchburgh. They cannot continually suggest it's other people, other organisations that need to find the money.
'This is an abdication of responsibility by the Scottish Government. If they don't want to take responsibility for it, they shouldn't put it in Programme for Government 2025/26.
'The Scottish government needs to stop ducking and diving and need to put their money where their mouth is. This is talking about rail investment strategy. If all it is is words, not backed up with cash, stop speaking. It's not helping.'
Fellow Linlithgow councillor Sally Pattle said the progress had been like wading through treacle as she sought clarification of when a business plan could come to the council.
When told it would be two to three months she responded: 'I would just like to welcome the fact that the Scottish Government reference Winchburgh in their programme for government although I'm slightly unclear as to what that will mean in practical terms to actually getting this project moving forward.
'I do welcome all the work that has been undertaken collaboratively between key stakeholders since last September, but I have to say that still feels like we are moving through treacle. I would also very much like it to be recognised by officers and key stakeholders that the longer this drags on the greater the negative impact it is having on my ward of Linlithgow because of all the commuters that come into use the train station and then park anti-socially across the town to do so so it would be good if that could recognised going forward.'
The report detailed passenger usage at neighbouring stations, including Linlithgow which sees 1,400 a day using the station.
Gordon Brown, Roads and Transportation Manager told the meeting: 'Progress on the Outline Business Case now allows the steering group to progress discussions with the Scottish Government on the case for investment, alignment with the overall rail strategy, public value and contribution to government priorities.
'These matters will be addressed as part of the funding application subject, of course, to the City Region Deal Joint Committee supporting an application via that route.'
The City Region Deal is a mechanism for accelerating growth. It is made up of six local authorities, universities and the private sector working with the Scottish and UK government to pull in investment.'
Winchburgh councillor Angela Doran-Timson pressed Mr Brown on what other alternative investment options there would be if the City Region Deal did not agree to fund the station. 'Was there a plan B?' she asked.
Mr Brown said there was 'no plan B' but to date 'no alternative funding sources had been identified'
Councillor Doran-Timson said: 'I'll echo what Tom Conn said. I welcome the report, fingers crossed that the funding does come forward from the Scottish Government.'
A TS spokesperson said: 'As co-promoters for Winchburgh Station, West Lothian Council and Winchburgh Developments Limited are responsible for developing a robust business case and securing the required capital funding, should it proceed.
'Transport Scotland, via ScotRail, has committed to fund the fit out of the station and its annual operational costs, should it be delivered.'
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland responded by issuing a joint statement issued on behalf of West Lothian Council, Winchburgh Developments Ltd, Transport Scotland, Network Rail and ScotRail which said: 'Further work continues to explore opportunities for innovative construction techniques to support efficient and low-disruption delivery.
'A stakeholder meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, is scheduled to take place in Winchburgh on 18 June. This will offer the minister the opportunity to see first-hand the progress made by the project partners.'
That same statement contained comments from council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick: 'It's extremely encouraging to see this project continuing to move forward at pace. With the planning application submitted and business case prepared, we're entering an important phase, which reflects the positive collaboration between all parties.'
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
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