17 September 2003

SPT calls for better funding and powers to ensure delivery of transport projects

The Scottish Executive today released its consultation on proposals for transport policy, planning and delivery in Scotland. Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) has for a long time called for improvements to the delivery of transport projects and in that respect welcomes the consultation on the proposal.

However, at the start of the consultation process SPT signalled a warning that it would be a costly mistake to replace what is a successful and democratic regional transport body. Councillor Alistair Watson, Chair of SPT, called for SPT to be given the powers and the funding required to ensure that it is allowed to deliver on ambitious but vital transport infrastructure projects.

Commenting on the release of the consultation document, Councillor Alistair Watson, Chair of SPT, said:

"As much as we welcome the consultation and the determination to improve transport delivery in Scotland, we at SPT simply want to deliver on major projects such as the Glasgow airport rail link, Crossrail, Larkhall - Milngavie rail link, Partick interchange redevelopment and better integrated ticketing.

"SPT has the expertise and track record to deliver on these projects, what we now need is the commitment, funding and powers to do them.

"Only in July a Scottish Executive funded report made clear the case for the retention and improvement of regional transport bodies such as SPT. The 'Transferability of Best Practice in Transport Policy Delivery' report showed that the existence of regional bodies can be linked to the successful implementation of transport policy when those bodies are funded properly and have the powers to introduce integrated ticketing and services. The report also highlighted that setting up new bodies would incur significant financial costs.

"In our minds the case is clear. Here in west central Scotland we have the organisation in place, the expertise and the vision. Instead of massive and expensive re-organisation we will be calling for a revamped SPT with the powers and money to get on with delivering better public transport for the local communities that they serve."

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