11 July 2007
Full speed ahead for Glasgow Airport Rail Link
Key development for grassroots football in west of Scotland
Work on one of the most important developments for grassroots football in the west of Scotland in recent years continued today (Wednesday), as SPT announced that work has started on the Shanks pitches in Johnstone, near Paisley.
Eleven temporary football pitches and changing facilities will be provided at seven locations across Renfrewshire during construction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
The pitches and new changing facilities are being provided to give local footballers alternative places to play football when work starts on the planned viaduct which will bisect St James playing fields in Paisley, a crucial part of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project.
The news comes just weeks after preparatory work began on a key section of the GARL route between Shields Junction (near Kinning Park in Glasgow) and Arkleston Junction (near Ralston in Paisley).
SPT chair Alistair Watson said: "It's great to see work starting on the most important expansion of the west of Scotland rail network for many years. This is the first step towards providing first-class, league standard temporary football facilities across Renfrewshire while work to construct the viaduct at St James Playing Fields is taking place.
"These 11 football pitches, changing rooms and car parking facilities are a huge boost for football in Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland."
He added: "Work needs to start soon to let them bed down for around a year before play can start."
Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay said: "Renfrewshire's football clubs have a fine tradition in developing players and being a focal point for sport in their communities. It was vital to Renfrewshire Council that the development of the airport rail link also provide an opportunity to modernise and upgrade pitches across Renfrewshire. This major investment will bring short-term and long-term benefits to sport in Renfrewshire."
John Lyle is general secretary of Paisley and District Amateur League, a local football league. He said: "The Glasgow Airport Rail Link is the best thing that's ever happened to St James playing fields and we're pleased to hear that SPT will be providing temporary league pitches while the work takes place at St James. This is really important in terms of keeping football going in Renfrewshire over the next few years."
After the St James viaduct is completed 20 pitches will be available at St James Playing Fields. Two further pitches will be provided at Ferguslie Park.
The eleven pitches are located at:
- Two at Thomas Shanks, off Quarrelton Road, Johnstone
- One at Glenpatrick, off Glenpatrick Road, Elderslie
- One at Morar Drive, off Cardell Road, Paisley.
- One at Durrockstock, off Durrockstock Road, Foxbar, Paisley.
- Two at Lochfield Marshes, off Rowan Street, Paisley.
- Two at Ralston, off Allanton Avenue, Paisley.
- Two at Ferguslie, off Ferguslie Park Avenue, Paisley: these will be permanent replacements for the two (out of 22) pitches that will be unavailable once the St James Spur is constructed across St James Playing Fields.
20 pitches will be available at St James Playing Fields after the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is constructed. Two pitches and new changing facilities will be provided at Ferguslie Park. All pitches will meet league standards and a modern drainage system will be provided for the area immediately east of the proposed viaduct crossing St James Playing Fields.
The Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill was granted Royal Assent by the Queen in January. The link will upgrade 9km (5.4 miles) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station and lay 1.9km (1.2miles) of new track between Paisley St James station and Glasgow Airport.
Glasgow Airport Rail Link is funded by Transport Scotland with financial support also from SPT, BAA and the European Union, through the Trans-European Transport Network budget.
The new track will cross St James Park via a new viaduct, and the M8. A new platform will also be built in Central Station and new track laid at the Elderslie sidings.
The new rail link will provide a dedicated train service every 15 minutes between Glasgow Central Station and a new station at Glasgow Airport. Trains will stop once at Paisley Gilmour Street and the journey time will be 16 minutes.
The Department for Transport estimates that passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport are predicted to almost double, from 8.2million a year in 2003, to over 15 million passengers a year in 2030. Airport owner BAA Scotland's latest forecasts are even higher and indicate that passenger numbers could rise as high as 24 million by 2030. At present, 95% of these passengers travelling to Glasgow Airport do so by road.
The rail link will provide more travel choice for airport users and establish a sustainable transport link to Glasgow Airport, which is a major employer and one of the biggest wealth generators in the region. It will increase the rail opportunities for travellers using Paisley Gilmour Street station.
The link will also benefit the tourist industry. According to Roger Tym & Partners, Glasgow Airport Rail Link could help 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 the Glasgow City region's conference sector business, worth an estimated £115m annually. In addition, the link will help support 1300 jobs across Glasgow and Renfrewshire including 650-700 gross new jobs in Paisley town centre.
ends
Notes to picture editors
Photos of Cllr Alistair Watson and Renfrewshire Council Leader Cllr Derek Mackay at football pitch in Johnstone are now available from David Sawyer on 0141 333 0557.