Transport Minister gives Kintore residents the brush off

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson this week caused frustration following his reply to a letter from Aberdeenshire MSP Alison McInnes regarding Crossrail.

In his reply Mr Stevenson dashed hopes of progress on the transport initiative, which would provide a commuter service from Inverurie to Stonehaven via Aberdeen and a new station at Kintore.

Mrs McInnes expressed her dismay at Stewart Stevenson's offhand dismissal of a 1000 strong petition supporting the opening of the railway station at Kintore.

In March she handed it over to the Transport Minister and urged him to back the proposals.

The Minister later stated to a Parliamentary Committee that he had not been asked to support the Crossrail project, prompting a furious reaction.

Alison McInnes explained: "I have been in correspondence with the Minister on this matter over the last year, and it is extremely disappointing that he treats the matter in such an offhand way. In his latest letter to me, he has said that he cannot give support to the project at this time.

"Crossrail is an excellent project that deserves investment from the Government now, not some time far off in the future."

Cllr Martin Ford, who also wrote to Mr Stevenson, received a similarly negative reply, but from Malcolm Reed, Chief Executive of quango Transport Scotland.

Mr Ford said: "There is no doubt that the Crossrail project would be of great benefit to the people of Inverurie and Kintore, especially given the population projections for the area. The Minister must stop prevaricating and stand up for this project in his own back yard."

Malcolm Bruce MP added: "Crossrail is a long-term solution to long-term transport and climate challenges. Unfortunately the Government seems to be preoccupied with short-term fixes to the numerous holes in their 2007 manifesto."

The petition was organised by Alison McInnes MSP, Malcolm Bruce MP, Cllr Nan Cullinane and Cllr Martin Ford. It was handed to the Stewart Stevenson, 20 March.

During a meeting of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee, 6 May, Stewart Stevenson said: "We have not been asked to support Aberdeen Crossrail, as yet."