Press Release
17th October 2003
Minister
Promises Inquiry into Gridlocked Transport Work
Transport
Minister, Nicol Stephen, has promised that his department will launch a Public
Local Inquiry (PLI) into the hold-up on work to replace Greenock’s West
Station Bridge.
His
pledge came during a meeting with MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan
McNeil, to discuss progress on the delay-ridden project – now three and a half
years old.
Mr
McNeil, who has been calling for an Inquiry since June 2003, said he hoped that
the move could break the current deadlock between landowners and the Executive.
“As
we learned back in June, the Scottish Executive was forced to issue Compulsory
Purchase Orders for land it needs to do the job, but which the landowners simply
refuse to sell,” he said today.
“However,
two objections to compulsory purchase were made – one from the financial
services and insurance company Legal & General, which is the landowner, and
another from DIY store Homebase, which is the leaseholder.
“The
Minister is right to promise a full Public Local Inquiry into these objections.
I hope the prospect of a full – and no doubt inconvenient and costly
– inquiry will concentrate a couple of minds and encourage all the parties to
get round the table, come to an agreement and get this much needed project
moving again.
“I
will certainly be writing to the Chairmen of both Homebase and Legal &
General, urging that they adopt this course of action.”
ENDS
Notes
The
West Station Bridge became one-way in November 1998 before closing in April 2000
on safety grounds.
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