31 March 2006
SPTA meets for final time
Strathclyde Passenger Transport celebrates 33 years of transport delivery today (Friday) as members of the Authority attend their final meeting before the dawning of a new era.
From 1st April, Strathclyde’s transport needs will be met by a new partnership body known as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport which is one of seven Regional Transport Partnerships to be established across the country under the terms of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005.
The new body - which will also operate as SPT - will serve the West of Scotland and will continue much of the work done by Strathclyde Passenger Transport over the past 33 years.
Today, past and present chairs and members of the outgoing SPT Authority meet at Consort House to reflect on past achievements, with former chairs, vice chairs and office holders since 1996 receiving a commemorative plaque as a parting gift.
Councillor Alistair Watson, who will chair the new body, said, "I am extremely proud of what SPT has achieved throughout the last 33 years, most recently delivering the new Larkhall/Milngavie line on time and on budget.
"I would like to thank all our partners who have worked with us to bring together various projects and I now look forward to working hard through the new RTP to continue improving transport across Strathclyde.
"It is, without doubt, the end of an era but it is also the beginning of a new one and it’s an exciting time in terms of current projects such as the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, Partick Interchange and the Crossrail project which the new partnership will be very much involved in promoting.
"After three years as Chair of SPT I would like to thank all authority members for their hard work and I very much look forward to working with the members of the new RTP to deliver a transport network that the people of Strathclyde deserve."
Outgoing Director General of SPT, Aidan ODonnell, added, "One constant over the last 30 years in the delivery of public transport in the West of Scotland has been SPT and it has been a period of great change involving, among other things, rail privatisation and bus deregulation.
"Apart from our delivery of infrastructure projects, we have used our subsidised bus budget to help bring public transport to the more economically and geographically isolated and disadvantaged.
"The new partnership will be building on a solid foundation which has been laid down by its predecessors over the last 30 years."
Renfrewshire Councillor John McDowall, who has been involved with Strathclyde Passenger Transport for 32 years, said, "I have seen a lot of changes over the years but the staff here have been tremendous in their commitment to the people of Strathclyde. I am honoured to have been part of SPT and I wish the new RTP all the best for the future."
Former Scottish Enterprise Glasgow head, Ron Culley, has been appointed as Chief Executive of the new RTP which will continue to operate the Glasgow Subway and Renfrew Ferry as well as subsidising hundreds of bus services vital to local communities. SPT’s rail functions have already been transferred to Transport Scotland.
Alongside Glasgow Councillor Alistair Watson as Chair will be Councillor David McLachlan from South Lanarkshire Council and Councillor Tom Selfridge from North Lanarkshire Council.
On the partnership body there are 20 councillors nominated from the 12 west of Scotland councils and up to nine additional members who are still to be appointed by Scottish Ministers.
The 20 councillors are Duncan McIntyre (Argyll & Bute), Eric Ross (East Ayrshire), Julie Southcott (East Dunbartonshire), Alan Lafferty (East Renfrewshire), Irene Graham, Jim McNally, John Mason, Alan Stewart, Alistair Watson (Glasgow), Eric Forbes (Inverclyde), Sam Taylor (North Ayrshire), David Fagan, Barry McCulloch, Tom Selfridge (North Lanarkshire), John McDowell (Renfrewshire), Bobby Campbell (South Ayrshire), Eileen Logan, David McLachlan, Chris Thompson (South Lanarkshire), and Linda McColl (West Dunbartonshire).
ends