Campaigners voice concern over lack of progress on rail link

Questions asked as project manager is yet to be appointed

Campaigners have raised concerns about delays in reinstating the Levenmouth rail link after it emerged a project manager has not yet been appointed for a key part of the process.

When cabinet secretary Michael Matheson announced the go-ahead for the line last August, he also instructed Fife Council to create a “blueprint group” to make sure the community was prepared to benefit from the line.

He specified that local people would be involved in the process that would be in place by last November.

Now, seven months on, Fife Council is about to start its search for a project manager for the third time.

Eugene Clarke, from the Levenmouth Rail Link Campaign, said supporters were deeply concerned since there are only 20 weeks until the general design stage is due for completion.

He said the group’s members suggested a blueprint group at a meeting with Fife Council’s co-leaders David Ross and David Alexander in 2018.

He said the proposal was rejected and communication had been poor since.

He said: “We have already made it clear that a one-off two-hour engagement exercise, as happened previously, is not acceptable to the Levenmouth public.”

Ken Gourlay, head of assets, transportation and environment at Fife Council, insisted progress was being made, saying: “This is an exciting opportunity for the region but it’s also a very complex picture and we want to make sure we get things right for everyone.

Mr Gourlay said a Levenmouth Reconnected leadership group and a working group, involving agencies like Transport Scotland, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), Network Rail, ScotRail and the council, had already been created and that a stakeholder group will be established in due course.

“We’re contributing to the option appraisal work for the rail line and possible station locations that’s being led by Network Rail and Transport Scotland,” he added.

“Things are actively progressing but it’s still early stages for this major development work, and while we haven’t identified a suitable candidate for the Levenmouth Reconnected programme manager, we hope to appoint someone soon who will be dedicated to leading this project and community engagement work.”

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We have already made it clear that a oneoff two-hour engagement excercise, as happened previously, is not acceptable. EUGENE CLARKE, LEVENMOUTH RAIL LINK CAMPAIGN