14 June 2005

SPT Listens to Public and Chooses Viaduct for St James Park' Crossing

SPT - the organisation promoting the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill - has listened to the public and chosen a viaduct to cross St James Park in Paisley.

As part of the recent public consultation into the proposed £140m Glasgow Airport Rail Link, SPT asked whether an embankment or viaduct should be used to cross the park. Eighty-one per cent of respondents favoured a viaduct.

The viaduct option was considered not only more visually appealing but also meant fewer - up to four of a possible 22 - playing fields would be lost at St James Park after the link is constructed.

SPT included the viaduct option in the draft of the bill, which was sent to the Scottish Parliament last Friday (10 June). SPT continues to work closely with Renfrewshire Council - the owner of the playing fields - and users of the park such as football leagues to ensure that the effect on football facilities is mitigated both during and after construction of the link.

Cllr Alistair Watson, Chair of SPT, said: "The public came out resoundingly in favour of a viaduct to cross St James Park and after careful consideration we have decided that this is the option to put forward in our bill to the Scottish Parliament.

"We appreciate the strength of feeling surrounding St James Park and are working closely with partners to identify appropriate ways of mitigating against the effects of the rail link crossing the playing fields."

During the formal public consultation - which ran from November 1 to February 28 - there was a total of 1638 formal responses. An additional 284 people attended public meetings and focus groups and 917 people visited the exhibition stands at various locations in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

The consultation has seen more than 20,000 information leaflets distributed to homes and businesses along the route of the proposed link. A further 15,000 leaflets were distributed on local train services. A series of public exhibitions and meetings have been held and a website has also been established.

SPT's final Glasgow Airport Rail Link bill will be submitted to the Scottish Parliament in October. Following the bill's introduction objectors have 60 days to register their concerns. If the bill is given the green light by MSPs, it is estimated that the link could be operational by the end of 2008.

Consultants have been investigating the feasibility of building a direct rail link to Glasgow Airport for some 15 years and a preferred route has been identified, which mainly follows existing rail lines.

The proposal is to upgrade 9 km (5.4 miles) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street Station and to lay 2 km (1.2 miles) of new track between Paisley St James Station and Glasgow Airport. The new track will cross St James Park and the M8.

Passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport are predicted to virtually double, from 8.2 million passengers a year in 2003, to over 15 million passengers a year in 2030. At the moment, 95% of these passengers travel to the airport by road.

The rail link will help to contribute to the continued growth of Glasgow Airport, which is a major employer and is one of the biggest wealth generators in the west of Scotland.

A recent study by economic development consultants Roger Tym & Partners estimated that the Glasgow Airport Rail Link would bring around £260m of economic benefits to Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde and lead to the development of 135,000 sq ft of office accommodation in Paisley town centre. In addition the link could also bring 52,500 additional UK and overseas visitors and contribute towards £10m in additional visitor expenditure every year to Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. The link would also support Glasgow's estimated £115m conference sector.

ends