Disappointment expressed over Burntisland station access bid

Burntisland Railway Station has missed out on funding for access improvements.

Locals had hoped the town would be able to secure money through the Access for All scheme to open up the northbound platform to wheelchair users and people with decreased mobility.

However, campaigners were told by Transport Scotland at a meeting this week that Burntisland will not be considered at this stage.

Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie has been pushing to make the station accessible to all. She said she was disappointed but would continue the fight for funding.

“Whilst the meeting was positive and the Community Development Trust was encouraged to still submit a nomination form, Transport Scotland was clear they already have all the information on each station and to secure funding through Access for All the case has to be watertight,” she said.

“It seems that, currently, Burntisland is not a priority. For this to have been successful, it is my belief some serious campaigning and lobbying would have had to have been going on for a few years.

“I do not want this to be seen as the end of the line – a well-presented and evidence backed nomination along with a continuation of the campaign will potentially open up opportunities for other funding that may become available.”

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “We are committed to delivering better accessibility and will continue to deliver improvements by increasing the number of fully accessible stations across Scotland, adding to those already delivered under Access for All.”