LEVENMOUTH RAIL CAMPAIGN JOIN MSPS AT PETITION HANDOVER AT PARLIAMENT
Published date : 01 Jun 2017
TRANSPORT MINISTER ACCEPTS PETITION ON BEHALF OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Jenny Gilruth MSP and David Torrance MSP joined campaigners from the Levenmouth Rail Campaign to handover a 12,506-strong petition to reinstate the Levenmouth Rail line to the Scottish Government.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf MSP accepted the petition on behalf of the Scottish Government at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday morning, along with cross-party support from regional MSPs across Mid Scotland & Fife.
Campaigners for the rail link travelled in a shuttle bus from Leven High Street to the Scottish Parliament to present the petition, which was handed over in three large boxes.
Commenting on the handover, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:
“This is a fantastic achievement, and I applaud the efforts of the Levenmouth Rail Campaign. They have my full and unequivocal support.
“I am longstanding supporter of reinstating the Levenmouth rail link. Levenmouth is currently the largest urban area in Scotland not connected by a rail link. This has a significant impact in limiting job opportunities for local people and the potential for investment. Connecting Levenmouth by rail would be a game-changer.
“The Scottish Government has already delivered the new Levenmouth Academy with £25million investment. A rail link would be the next big step in regenerating the area and would offer vastly improved employment opportunities for local residents.”
“Levenmouth needs this link, and I will do everything I can to make sure it is delivered.”
David Torrance MSP added:
“I’d like to congratulate the Levenmouth Rail campaigners on their efforts over the last couple of years that they have been collecting signatures for the petition. To successfully reach over 12,000 is a great achievement by all the volunteers, and I hope this comes to a successful conclusion. A Levenmouth Rail Link will play a vital part in creating good transport links and economic regeneration for a large part of my constituency.”
To mark the handover, Jenny Gilruth MSP has submitted a motion (S5M-05941) to the Scottish Parliament, welcoming the petition handover and seeking a members’ debate on the reinstatement of the link.
The Levenmouth Rail Campaign is seeking to reinstate the existing line from Thornton to Cameron Bridge and Leven rail stations. A STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) report advising on the viability of reinstating the link is currently being evaluated by Transport Scotland.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Top photo (left to right): David Torrance MSP, Humza Yousaf MSP and Jenny Gilruth MSP holding the boxes containing the LMRC petition signatories.
The text of the Motion (S5M-05941: “Levenmouth Rail Link”), submitted Jenny Gilruth MSP:
“That the Parliament notes what it sees as the strong support that the Levenmouth Rail Campaign has achieved; believes this has been demonstrated by it organising a petition that has by signed by over 12,500 residents from the area that calls for the re-opening of the rail link from Thornton to Leven; welcomes the Fife Council report, Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study – Final Stag Report, which was published in January 2017; understands that this study included a strongly positive cost-benefit analysis for the link and suggested that its re-opening would lead to major economic benefits; believes that, although the Levenmouth area faces high levels of economic deprivation and problems with connectivity, it has substantial opportunities for employment and economic development; considers that this project could help deliver this; understands that passenger numbers on other re-opened services, including the Borders Railway and the Airdrie-Bathgate line have exceeded predictions, and notes the view that a strong case has been made for ministers to give serious consideration to the re-opening of the Levenmouth line for passenger and freight services.”
For more information on the Levenmouth Rail Campaign, please visit:
http://www.lmrc-action.org.uk/
CONTACT DETAILS
Gavin Hugh
Researcher for Jenny Gilruth MSP
E-mail: Gavin.Hugh@parliament.scot
Phone: 01592 764815
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