Squabbling won’t fix Levenmouth rail link

Sir, – The article in The Courier (“War of words breaks out over rail link, January 11”) covered the harsh verbal exchanges between SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth and Fife Council co-leader David Ross.

Ms Gilruth claimed Mr Ross had failed to argue the case for rail services in the Levenmouth area as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, claims Mr Ross angrily denied, accusing Ms Gilruth of undermining the crossparty approach to the rail campaign.

As a Levenmouth resident, I would criticise both of them.

Ms Gilruth’s party is in government at Edinburgh and shares power in Fife, so they have the direct capacity to make positive decisions to return railway services to Leven.

It is not clear why singling out the co-leader of Fife Council is that relevant to the situation.

However, I agree that Levenmouth has been disgracefully marginalized in the Edinburgh City Region Deal, while the capital greatly benefits.

It is clear that much more pressure and accountability is needed from council leaders and also those in the Scottish Government.

After the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, agreed to commit Transport Scotland to a major GRIP4 feasibility study into the reopening of the Levenmouth rail link, perhaps the focus of all political representatives should be ensuring officials at both Transport Scotland and Fife Council actually do their work properly instead of delaying, obstructing and diverting.

The continued isolation of Levenmouth from the national transport system is becoming a national embarrassment.

Stuart Mcintosh. Kirkland Drive, Methil.

Jenny Gilruth MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes with Eugene Clarke, Chairman of Levenmouth Rail Campaign.