11 January 2007
A vision for Strathclyde's future transport needs
Largest ever public consultation process gets underway
The opportunities to create a world class transport system in the west of Scotland will be outlined by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport at a conference to be held in Glasgow tomorrow (Friday 12 January).
SPT will present its draft consultation document for the future of transport to a conference of 100 transport delegates and other interested parties at the Royal Concert Hall.
Scotland's seven regional transport partnerships (RTPs) were set up on 1 April 2006. Each was asked by the Transport Minister to produce a regional transport strategy, after public consultation, by 31 March 2007. The regional transport strategies will then inform the blueprint for a National Transport Strategy for Scotland.
Tomorrow's conference marks the start of the second stage of the process to complete the regional transport strategy for the SPT area. The Draft Consultation Document is entitled "A Catalyst for Change - The RTS for the West of Scotland 2007 - 2021". The public consultation period lasts until 12 February.
Interest groups like the Community Transport Association, Rail Future Scotland and Cycling Scotland will be at the conference to consider the outline plans and proposals. Delegates representing bus, train, airport and ferry operating companies are also attending, along with local councils, health boards and Scottish Enterprise.
The legal requirement to produce a regional transport strategy for each of the RTPs arose from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005. The proposals in the current document embrace transport plans for the next 15 years.
The SPT area is Scotland's largest RTP and covers a region of 2.14 million people. It powers more than 40% of the Scottish economy, making efficient transport a vital component in safeguarding the country's future prosperity.
Among the projects outlined are the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL), Crossrail and the long-term redevelopment of the Glasgow Subway. But the draft includes projects stretching from Loch Lomond to Girvan. And they involve detailed improvements in every part of the transport network from big bang plans to the shortest rural bus service.
SPT Chief Executive Ron Culley says: "The strategy is obviously shaped by massive projects like the airport rail link and Crossrail. But it also includes consideration of local issues like bus routes in remote rural areas. This document is about proposals and visions. But they in turn have been bound by the key issues of economic regeneration, climate change and carbon reduction, and social inclusion to combat poverty."
Chair of SPT, Councillor Alistair Watson added, "The future is about a transport network that matches the needs of people, the needs of commerce and industry and the needs of the environment. When the final report is agreed by everyone who has an interest in it, the plan will be matched with money, resources and effort to make it happen."
ends
Notes to editors
The conference takes place tomorrow (Friday 12 January) from 9.30am until 12.30pm at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
A series of stakeholder meetings and public exhibitions is being held at the following venues:
- Cumbernauld - Shopping Centre 17 January 2007
- Hamilton - Brandongate Centre 17 January 2007
- Barrhead - Council Offices 18 January 2007
- Glasgow - Central Station 19 January 2007 (am)
- Glasgow - Buchanan Bus Station 19 January 2007 (pm)
- Kilmarnock - Burns Mall 22 January 2007
- Ayr - Carrick Shopping Mall 22 January 2007
- Clydebank - Shopping Centre 24 January 2007
- Helensburgh - Train Station 23 January 2007
- Bearsden - Asda 25 January 2007
- Paisley - Shopping Centre 25 January 2007
- Greenock- Oak Mill 26 January 2007
- Irvine - Rivergate Shopping Centre 26 January 2007
How to contact us: Telephone: 0141 333 3219, email: rts@spt.co.uk or write to: Regional Transport Strategy, SPT, Consort House, 12 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1HN.