Aberdeen Crossrail Project

Thank you Presiding Officer, and let me start by formally moving the motion in my name. I must say that it is nice to come to the chamber being able to anticipate cross-party backing in support of my motion.

Well, that is, I am assuming that the Aberdeen Crossrail project will be supported by all sides here today. I certainly believe that if prior form is anything to go by, then it will. I know, after all, that the Labour party support Crossrail. As do the Greens. Indeed on this even the Conservative party had previously professed their support - although I must confess that I am puzzled by Alex Johnstone's amendment, as he seems more concerned with attempting to falsely attribute Nestrans' current position (under the chairmanship of SNP Councillor Stewart) to me than it does to securing a positive outcome for the Crossrail project.

Then, there is the Government. I cannot help but hope that I will be getting at least two votes from the SNP benches. Brian Adam, after all, was on the record throughout the course of the previous Parliament in support of the project - and rightly so, considering the huge benefits that it will bring his constituents. And if Mr Adam recognised those benefits, then one can only suppose that the First Minister must as well. In which case, the people of Gordon can surely rest safe in the knowledge that their local MSP is fully behind the Crossrail scheme.

Or is that, perhaps, an assumption too far?

Since they were elected, the SNP's attitude towards Crossrail has been one of 'ignorance is bliss'. But however much the Transport Minister is hoping to divert attention with endless bluster, I have to tell him that while he may have fooled the Conservative party, we at least are not going to overlook his inaction.

I think my favourite line on the topic from the Minister so far - and it is difficult to pick out just one - came during a committee meeting last year:

"We have not been asked to support Aberdeen crossrail, as yet." (TICC OR, 6/5/08, col 637)

I must admit, I have struggled to find a context in which the Government - I assume that the Minister is not using the Royal 'We' just yet - a context in which the Government has not been asked to support Crossrail.

I have asked them to support it. Mike Rumbles has asked them. Richard Baker has asked them. Nannette Milne has asked them. Nestrans have asked them. The people of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have asked them.

I'm not quite sure exactly who the Minister is waiting to hear the question from.

To be honest, I fail to see why he needs the question to be asked in the first place. Are we to believe that a Scottish Government Minister is unable to act on his own initiative? Can the Government only take action when someone else (a very specific someone, apparently) asks them to do so?

The case for Aberdeen Crossrail is well documented, and well supported. Yet it was still omitted from the much-heralded STPR with barely an explanation. Fuzzy plans for national timetable improvements are no substitute for a properly-implemented, dedicated local service. Nor are vague statements about "exploring the possibility of new stations" an adequate alternative for truly improved public transport options.

The recently finalised Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan serves as a vivid demonstration of the short-sightedness of excluding Crossrail from the STPR. That Plan identifies key Strategic Growth Areas within the region. Areas in which it is anticipated that some 75-80% of growth will be focused over the next 20 years. Areas that are centred on the region's main public transport routes. Including the proposed Crossrail corridor.

This means that on the one hand, we have a 20 year period of focused growth, and on the other a 20 year plan containing no major local rail improvements. I believe that even current projected passenger numbers more than support the case for Crossrail. If we act now, then we can see properly implemented sustainable transport options integrated with the anticipated growth. If the Government continues to ignore the people of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, then they will be left to deal with a mess of cars, congestion and an outdated public transport network. I know which one I'd prefer.

Since the last election, I have almost lost track of the amount of correspondence that I have had with the Minister and with Transport Scotland on the issue of Crossrail. Indeed, getting an answer from Mr Stevenson in writing is no easier a task than getting one here in the chamber. It seems on occasion that he has delegated so much of his portfolio to Transport Scotland that all that is left for him to do is to give us bad news, and to help unveil new paint schemes for trains.

For several months last year my letters to the Minister on Crossrail were redirected down the M8 to Transport Scotland headquarters. From there I received a number of substantive answers - discussing predicted passenger numbers, outlining feasibility studies and explaining the processes involved in compiling the business case.

And while I often have not agreed with some of the figures used, or some of the reasoning involved, I cannot argue that Transport Scotland weren't upholding their part of the bargain. They were doing the work.

But the Minister? Was he doing his share?

Sadly, no.

For a regional project like Crossrail to progress, hard work is needed. Vision is needed. And political leadership is needed. This Minister has given us none.

When, last summer, I did finally manage to get a response directly from the Minister, I was told that:

"It is not appropriate for me to give an 'in principle' decision at this stage."

Again, I have struggled to understand. Not appropriate to give an "in principle" decision?

Am I incorrect to suggest that an "in principle" decision is just that - either the Minister thinks that Crossrail is a good idea, or he doesn't. At this point, I'm not asking him whether he thinks the specifics of any detailed plans under examination are the best business option. I just want to know whether he thinks it's a good idea.

Either the Minister thinks that Crossrail would have no discernable benefits for commuters in the North East, or he thinks that it could play an important role in promoting the use of public transport. Maybe the Minister will enlighten us this morning as to which of those viewpoints he takes. Surely he must have an opinion of his own?

The view within Transport Scotland is unfortunately clear. They do not believe there is a case for Crossrail. I respectfully disagree with that view, and I would point to a number of concerns, raised by Nestrans, over Transport Scotland's report on the project as faults with their position.

However, even with this in mind, strong leadership from the Minister would still create the impetus to move Crossrail forward.

By declaring his support for the project, he would be asking Transport Scotland and Nestrans to ensure that the project is taken forward, and in the most effective manner possible. By declaring his support, he would be showing the people of North East Scotland that he is up to the challenge of delivering an ambitious, integrated public transport scheme.

But by hiding behind Transport Scotland's first report, he is showing he isn't up to that challenge. He is letting himself, and the Government, be dictated to. And he is letting the people of the North East down.