280 January 2018 - Gryffe Advertizer

january 2018
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51
Possible return of the train
Two momentous events have
occurred within the last three
weeks which greatly enhance
the prospect of the return of
the railway to the Gryffe Valley
-- a campaign we have been
fighting for over many years,
recognising of course that the
interests of present day “cycle
track” users must now be accommodated.
The fi rst of these is the Scottish Government’s (through their Planning
and Environment Appeals Tribunal) refusal to allow development to go
ahead at the “WhiteLint Gate” site at the eastern end of Bridge of Weir.
This, if passed, would have allowed the developer to “ride rough-shod”
over long established rights to maintain the integrity of the railway trackbed,
rights which had been established following a previous unsuccessful
Planning Application by Bellway Homes to build on the trackbed at the old
Bridge of Weir station in 2001/2.
The second momentous event, perhaps less obviously relevant to the
Gryffe Valley railway’s future, is the Scottish Government’s rejection of
Renfrewshire Council’s proposal for an Airport Rail Link entering the
Airport from the western end using a “tram-train” system. This scheme
had been proposing to use a large slice of the “Greater Glasgow City deal”
money, awarded by the governments to promote “transport infrastructure”
improvements within Renfrewshire, yet nothing whatsoever had been
apportioned to overcome the totally inadequate transport infrastructure
conditions (both road and rail) within the rural Renfrewshire hinterland.
We are not against giving a high priority to a Glasgow Airport rail link, but
if the alternative one we have in mind were to be adopted, it would take a
logical direct route, branching off the main line at Arkleston and entering
the Airport from the east, with a “through” station at an elevated level within
the concourse, allowing the line to be extended later, if not immediately,
over the M8 at its narrowest (west of the St James Interchange) and
continuing on along the north side of the A737 to serve Linwood and join
up with the original route of the Gryffe Valley Line.
The advantage to the people of Gryffe of such a scheme would be
enormous, allowing not only rapid and direct access to the centres of
Paisley and Glasgow, but also to the Airport (as a place of work as well
as a fl ight “jumping off” point). We recognise that an essential part of any
such railway system would be to provide “park and ride” facilities at many
of the stations for those many who would still have to start and finish their
journeys by car or local bus.
Our group has many interested and like-minded people behind us, so why
not give us your opinion and hopefully also lend us your support. We will
be canvassing for contact details at the various community centres in the
area in the next few weeks.
Brian Turner, on behalf of The Gryffe Valley Transport Forum.
Deafhillock Roundabout
Roadworks Amnesty
Local communities and commerce may be temporarily relieved to hear of
Renfrewshire Council’s decision to suspend all future planned roadworks
around Deafhillock Roundabout until late spring 2018. Commenting on
this decision local Councillor Jim Sheridan said, “All three major parties
recognised the frustrations of the local residents and businesses, trying
to go about their everyday lives in these challenging circumstances.
Therefore this decision is welcomed to allow future necessary roadworks
to be planned in a way that recognises previous mistakes and learns
from them. Planning for this development got off to a bad start and
gradually got worse. People recognise and accept that maintaining and
constructing new roads causes delays, but they quite rightly expect all
those involved to work together in a professional way, including utilities
to limit delays to the public.
Parking Discs to
cease in New Year
Inverclyde’s Environment and Regeneration
Committee has unanimously agreed to cease
parking discs in Kilmacolm. This followed a public
hearing on 31st August to hear the arguments of an objector.
Councillor David Wilson told the Advertizer, “At full Council on 30th
November the cessation was again unanimously agreed. There needs
to be a further 6 weeks, in case of a legal challenge, before discs go.
This will be towards the end of January. I thank my colleague Councillor
McCabe for his support in this matter. I would point out that the 2 hour
limit will remain in force. The village traders did not want the disc system.
47% of all tickets were for disc offences, often visitors.”
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