Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Council agree to look at new public transport network plan
Proposal for better linked up travel around North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is “to explore options for a councilor publicly- owned transport network to serve the area”.
Councillors unanimously agreed to a proposal to consider how travel around the local authority and between its various towns can be improved.
It was put forward at their meeting last week by Labour councillor Heather McVey, who said: “North Lanarkshire is a great place to work and visit, and the infrastructure is excellent – but these logistics don’t apply if you don’t have a car.
“We don’t have good transport from north to south; people have to travel outside North Lanarkshire to travel back in and use our services.
“People can’t get from one end of my ward to the other as timetables don’t harmonise.
“I’d love to ditch my car and solve some of the parking problems, but that’s not viable.
“I’d like to see an exploration of potential options that the council can look into, to maximise education and employment opportunities, or just to help people get to the doctor or hospital.
“We have three hospitals [across the NHS Lanarkshire area], and it’s really difficult for people from different areas to access these fantastic institutions. Let this also be part of an NHS travel plan.”
Noting that North Lanarkshire is the lead authority for the connectivity portfolio within the eight- council Glasgow Region city deal cabinet, she added: “Let’s use the creativity and ingenuity of this authority to maximise its potential.”
Councillors united in agreeing to the proposal, agreeing with the motion that “it is essential that public transport and transport connectivity are improved for all of our citizens to enable them to fulfil their potential in education, employment and wellbeing”.
Meanwhile, Alex Neil is encouraging individuals and organisations in his constituency to take part in a Transport Scotland survey which “will help shape the long-term vision” of national policy on the issue for the next two decades.
The Airdrie & Shotts MSP hopes to see local views represented in the National Transport Strategy (NTS) review, which will be available to complete online until March 31.
He said: “This review is intended to be a listening exercise garnering views from members of the public and interested organisations to help shape the future of transport in Scotland, and I’d encourage as many constituents as possible to take this chance to have their views heard.
“The SNP government will be working closely throughout the review with regional transport partnerships, local authorities and others through a partnership group.”