22 July 2005

SPT expresses surprise and disappointment over new Transport proposals

Cllr Alistair Watson, Chair of Strathclyde Passenger Transport today expressed his surprise and disappointment at proposals by Tavish Scott, Minister for Transport, to set up an Islands Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) and remove the Cowal Peninsula and Bute from the proposed West of Scotland RTP.

Cllr Watson said, "This proposal has come out of the blue. It is very hard to reconcile either of these developments with the logical intention to base the RTPs on recognised travel to work areas.

"Arguments in favour of a stand-alone RTP for Dumfries & Galloway were accepted because, in travel terms, the area has more in common with Carlisle than Glasgow.

"Similarly the Executive accepted SPT's contention that Arran, Bute, Cumbrae and the Cowal Peninsula should fall within the west area. Both SPT and WESTRANS have proceeded on the basis that the West of Scotland RTP should recognise Glasgow's expanding travel to work area. Up until as recently as February Bute and the Cowal Peninsula has been included in proposals for the West of Scotland RTP.

"All of this has now been thrown into doubt by proposals which have been produced while the Scottish Parliament is in recess, while there is no opportunity for the Transport & Local Government Committee to scrutinise them and without any consultation.

"We should be moving to a situation where organisational boundaries match but increasingly NHS boundaries don't fit with local authority boundaries which don't fit with transport boundaries. This maverick initiative simply adds to the confusion.

"This story is just breaking but already the largest area in terms of geography and the largest area in terms of population are both up in arms against it."

Cllr Watson's protests mirror those of HITRANS Chair, Charlie King who said, "I cannot see how the split will improve the integration of transport services in our remote and fragile area nor do I see it as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the way we provide services."

Regional Transport Partnerships are the building blocks of the Transport (Scotland) Bill. Evidence from Europe and SPT's experience has shown that transport solutions are best delivered at a regional level. The RTPs are intended to provide Scotland as a whole with the same kind of body that the Strathclyde region has benefited from for the past 30 years.

ends