March 2010 Update

Welcome to my March update. This update has a strong transport flavour.

Please feel free to forward this email to any friends that may find the information of interest.

First the good news

There is no doubt roads have suffered more than usual following the harsh winter. The Council is planning a programme of road patching. Click here for the list of local streets the Council is planning to patch. If you know of a road that has really bad pot holes and may have been missed click here for council information and reporting advice.

New hope for the future of Renfrew Ferry – campaigning success on the horizon, with responses from new potential commercial operators due in by March 15th. I have asked to meet new SPT chair as soon as tendering is complete so that I can do all I can to ensure fares, timetable, routes under any new operator are as favourable as possible for local users.

The Mod will be coming to Paisley for the first time in 2013 – good news for local tourism and hospitality businesses.

As we come to the end of Fairtrade fortnight – keep in mind to eat 4-finger Kit Kats only. Why? Click here to find out.

Now the bad news

Opposition to local school bus cuts - an emergency council meeting was called on Monday 8th to review the decision to cancel many secondary school buses. Unfortunately, by 19 to 17 votes, the call for a rethink was defeated. Click here to see local press review. Opposition councillors are working hard to ensure there is alternative bus provision. If you have not yet signed the petition against the removal of the buses please do so here. If you want to know more about the council plans and the appeal process click here.

No movement, for now, on getting Glasgow Airport Rail Link reinstated, but the issue is attracting national media attention. Click here for the article Parliamentary Affairs I published this week on what has happened and why it is wrong for Renfrewshire.

And the Scottish Government will still not commit to fund Fastlink (the tram like service) – originally planned to connect Renfrew to the City Centre, via the Southern General. This is despite its £120 million costing being less than the saving of the GARL cancellation.

Hopefully the spring weather will arrive shortly and relieve the pressure on our beleaguered transport systems!