Press Release
5th December 2001
McNeil Calls for Executive to
Pile Pressure on "Short-sighted" Railtrack
CALL FOR ACTION AFTER RAILTRACK
WITHDRAW FROM GOUROCK DEVELOPMENT
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has called
on the Scottish Executive to put "every ounce of pressure at
their disposal" on Railtrack to force them to rethink their
"short-sighted decision" not to proceed with the joint
redevelopment of the Gourock waterfront.
The project, to which the Scottish Executive has already contributed £3 Million and Inverclyde Council £750,000 plus land, relies on Railtrack moving the existing station as part of a commercial development. Without this move, the project’s future is in doubt.
Speaking after an emergency meeting today with Deputy Transport Minister, Lewis Macdonald, Mr McNeil said:
"This is undoubtedly a bitter blow for all concerned - for Inverclyde Council, the Scottish Executive, the developers and all the others who have worked very hard to make this project possible.
"But I have no intention of letting this hard work go to waste.
"I have met with the Minister today to
make the case for Gourock and have also tabled a Private
Member’s motion on the subject. I am also hoping to question
the Transport Minister on the subject at next week’s
question time. In the meantime, I look forward to the Scottish
Executive putting every ounce of pressure at their disposal on
Railtrack to force them to think again."
ENDS
Notes
The full text of Mr McNeil’s motion reads:
That the Parliament notes with dismay the decision by Railtrack plc not to support four Scottish Executive funded enhancement projects, including the project at Gourock train station; recognises that this decision has a particular impact on the Gourock project as it jeopardises the future of the joint capital project between Railtrack, the Executive, Inverclyde Council and private companies to redevelop the Gourock waterfront; notes that this project, which would include an integrated transport hub, offers substantial benefits to the Inverclyde economy; and urges Railtrack to reconsider this short-sighted decision before the project is lost and the people of Inverclyde are robbed of a major economic opportunity.
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