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SPT fails to answer questions |
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Saturday, 17 March 2007 |
 The SNP has welcomed the idea of a replacement/extension to the Glasgow Subway. However, councillors at Friday's meeting of SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) were only given a scanty 5 page report. No figures or any real detail at all were provided despite the fact that consultants Atkins Ltd had produced an inch thick report.
The only SNP councillor on SPT, John Mason, asked a number of questions:
- Had a proper study been done as to the demand for transport in different parts of the City? (Answer: a vague yes);
- Why was a circle being proposed rather than a line which might cover more destinations? (No answer);
- Had consideration been given to linking Central and Queen Street stations on a new Subway line? (No answer);
- Would the existing Subway continue to have miniature tunnels and trains with limited disabled access? (Answer: yes);
- Could the existing Subway not be increased in size to standard gauge/tunnels/trains? (Answer: no, as it would be astronomically expensive);
- Had consideration been given to a line from the east end linking the Royal Infirmary via the City Centre to the Southern General? Wouldn't this serve a wider range of people? (Answer: a bus to the Southern is all that is required).
Councillor Mason commented, "I certainly welcome the idea of expanding our Subway system rather than just patching up what we have. But I fear councillors have been rushed too quickly to decide on a limited number of options. If we are seriously thinking about spending £2 billion, then the whole idea needs to be thought through extremely carefully. Instead it appears the outgoing Labour councillors on SPT wanted to rush through a decision to show they were doing something before the election. This is disappointing for such an important question. I would certainly want to see much fuller reports and detailed analysis before we go any further."
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