Mark Shanks
The Scottish Information Centre
By e-mail:
Edinburgh
request-52046-
EH99 1SP
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Tel: 0131-348-6913
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FOI Request no: 2010-018680
18th November 2010
Dear Mark Shanks,
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE POSSIBLE NEW RAILWAY
STATION AT BONNYBRIDGE
Thank you for your request for information relating to the possible new railway
bridge at Bonnybridge which we received on 17th November 2010. Your
request has been handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002.
The information you requested is not held by the Scottish Parliament and
therefore we cannot provide it to you. However, you may wish to contact the
Scottish Government to locate the Ministerial correspondence you seek. I’ve
enclosed the contact details for making a freedom of information request to
the Scottish Government:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home
mailto:xxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx
For completeness I have checked if any parliamentary questions have been
asked about a possible new railway station at Bonnybridge and this is also
available for you to search at the following link:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/index.htm
I used the search term “Bonnybridge” and located the following items:
Rail Network
S3W-22346 - Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) (Date Lodged
Wednesday, March 25, 2009): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it
has to reopen railway stations at (a) Grangemouth and (b) Bonnybridge.
Answered by Stewart Stevenson (Friday, April 24, 2009): I refer the
member to the answer to question S3W-22344 on 24 April 2009. All answers
to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website,
the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
S3W-22345 - Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) (Date Lodged
Wednesday, March 25, 2009): To ask the Scottish Executive what
consideration it has given to the reopening of railway stations at (a)
Grangemouth and (b) Bonnybridge.
Answered by Stewart Stevenson (Friday, April 24, 2009): I refer the
member to the answer to question S3W-22344 on 24 April 2009. All answers
to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website,
the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
S3W-22344 - Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) (Date Lodged
Wednesday, March 25, 2009): To ask the Scottish Executive for what
reasons railway stations at (a) Grangemouth and (b) Bonnybridge were not
included in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Answered by Stewart Stevenson (Friday, April 24, 2009): The potential for
a new railway station at Bonnybridge was specifically considered as part of
the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). However, no proposal for
Grangemouth emerged from the initial option generation exercise, nor was it
proposed by any stakeholders.
The recommendations of the STPR are based on the most robust analysis
and evidence available taking the future needs of Scotland''s strategic
transport infrastructure into account. This concluded that there was no case
for additional stations to meet the strategic transport needs in the area.
In addition, recent consideration by Transport Scotland found that reopening
either railway station could potentially have an adverse impact on the existing
rail network, such as the Grangemouth Freight Hub and the Edinburgh to
Glasgow Improvements Programme which are included in the STPR
recommendations.
S2W-28058 - Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind) (Date Lodged
Wednesday, August 30, 2006): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the
answer to question S2W-16435 by Nicol Stephen on 24 May 2005, whether
the final report of the feasibility study into the provision of a new station and
park and ride facility at Allandale/Castlecary and lower level studies of other
local stations including High Bonnybridge have been submitted by Falkirk
Council and, if so, what the findings were and what decisions have ensued.
Answered by Tavish Scott (Thursday, October 05, 2006): The final report
of the feasibilitystudy into the provision of a new park and ride station at
Allandale was submittedto the Scottish Executive by consultants acting on
behalf of Falkirk Council earlierthis year.
The report, which took the formof a STAG appraisal, considered the feasibility
of a station and park and ride atAllandale, the impact of this site on other rail
stations and the overall use of the rail network and the feasibility of other
stations on the rail line at Bonnybridgeand Abronhill. The study was also
expanded to include the operational feasibilityand economic appraisal of a
station and park and ride site at Bannockburn.
The report concluded that thedevelopment of an alternative park and ride
facility at Bannockburn wouldprovide best value for money and that this option
should be taken forward to a Designand Development Appraisal stage.
In view of the strong case setout in the STAG report for the development of
Bannockburn over Allandale, I haveagreed that Bannockburn should be
further appraised and that no further workshould be taken on Allandale.
S2W-16435 - Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind) (Date Lodged Tuesday,
May 10, 2005): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to
the provision of railway stations at High Bonnybridge, Allandale or Castlecary.
Answered by Nicol Stephen (Tuesday, May 24, 2005): The Scottish
Executive awarded Falkirk Council £450,000 from the Public Transport Fund
to undertake a feasibility study to improve rail services along the A80/M80
corridor. The study includes provision of a new station and park and ride
facility at Allandale/Castlecary and lower level studies of other local stations
including High Bonnybridge. We expect to receive the final report in the
autumn for consideration.
Ministerial Correspondence
S1W-12957 - Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP) (Date Lodged
Wednesday, January 31, 2001): To ask the Scottish Executive when the
Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to the letter dated 15
December 2000 from Mr R. Wilson of Bonnybridge.
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm (Wednesday, February 14, 2001):
Officials replied to Mr Wilson on 29 January 2001.
Transport
S1W-2580 - Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) () (Date Lodged Tuesday,
November 16, 1999): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make
representations to Railtrack and to ScotRail for the reopening of Bonnybridge
Railway Station.
Answered by Sarah Boyack (Wednesday, February 23, 2000): Under the
terms of the devolution settlement for railways announced on 31 March 1998,
now incorporated in the UK Transport Bill introduced on 1 December 1999,
the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the
Strategic Rail Authority for the franchise providing passenger rail services
which begin and end in Scotland. They will reflect strategic priorities for the
provision of passenger rail services throughout Scotland. It would then be for
the train operating company, in conjunction with Railtrack, to ensure the
availability of the necessary infrastructure to meet the terms of the franchise.
Finance
S1W-1714 - Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) () (Date Lodged Tuesday,
September 28, 1999): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make
representations to Her Majesty's Government to include Bonnybridge in the
assisted area map and in the map for EU Objective 2 assistance.
Answered by Jack McConnell (Tuesday, October 12, 1999): The Scottish
Executive welcomed the plans for new Assisted Areas in Scotland put to the
European Commission on 15 July by the UK Government. We recognise that
a number of areas not covered by the map have made representations to the
Scotland Office concerning the needs of their areas and understand that
these points are currently being considered by the UK Government.
The Objective 2 proposals are complementary to those on Assisted Areas and
are based on similar, but not identical criteria. In line with the focus of the
Objective 2 proposals on areas of need, Bonnybridge featured in the
recommendations put forward by the Scottish Executive and is included in the
UK Government's Objective 2 proposals. The list of proposed areas has now
been submitted by the Government to the European Commission.
The supply of information under FOI does not constitute permission for its use
in a way that would infringe copyright. Where relevant, you should obtain
permission from the copyright holder before any such use.
We would welcome feedback or comment on how we handled your request.
Please feel free to contact the FOI Specialist at The Scottish Parliament,
Edinburgh, EH99 1SP or by e-mail at
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Please find below Annex A, which explains how we handle FOI requests and
reviews.
Yours sincerely
Claire Turnbull
FOI Specialist
Annex A
REQUESTS MADE UNDER
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
How we handle FOI requests
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Alternatively, please contact the Parliament’s Public Information Service to
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If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request
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