East Ayrshire’s communities are to determine how to deal with road, rail and public transport issues in the coming years.
The decision followed a debate on a Conservative motion calling on the council to create a working group to lobby for the reinstatement of rail links in Mauchline and Cumnock.
But SNP members, backed by the majority of the Labour opposition, argued that the motion was too restrictive and pushed for a broader approach that looks at road, rail and other forms of transport, focusing on the differing needs of communities across East Ayrshire.
Ballochmyle SNP Councillor Willie Lennox had pointed out that a survey carried out by the party had found 72 per cent backing a bypass over a rail station.
He proposed that communities be asked what their transport priorities are, utilising the new processes recently put in place for community decision making.
This amendment was supported by 23 councillors, with the Conservative motion backed by just five members.
While the Conservatives had indicated they were happy with the SNP amendment, provided it was included alongside their proposal, afterwards one councillor declared the 23 councillors to be ‘pro-car and anti-environment’.
Conservative group leader John McFadzean had tabled the motion to create a working group to ‘help and facilitate the re-opening of Mauchline and Cumnock Railway Stations’.
He said: “We are expanding the village of Mauchline and the town of Cumnock, however we need to be seriously looking at the transport infrastructure in the area.
“This working group would look to reverse the Beeching Cuts of 1965, increase the use of Rail, which in turn would reduce the volume of traffic on the A76.”
He said that it would encourage tourism, reduce traffic volume and be better for the environment.
Labour depute leader Barry Douglas had backed the intial motion but sought the inclusion of Hurlford and Altonhill.
He added that he didn’t want to give the public ‘false hope’ in the short term, with little indication that Transport Scotland planned to invest there.
Councillor Lennox began by acknowledging the benefits that rail would have in Cumnock and Mauchline.
He said: “I don’t think we should be looking at reopening rail halts in isolation. I think it’s vitally important to see the transport infrastructure in its entirety.
“Each community needs to be looked at separately. I am quite sure the needs of Mauchline will be different to the needs of Cumnock.
“There is a lot of support in Mauchline for a bypass, for example.”
He also said that community support was not sufficient and that the costs and benefits had to be assessed.
There would also be potential negatives, he said: “A rail halt or station in either Mauchline or Cumnock could potentially adversely impact the rural bus services already suffering from cuts.
“Although well intended, the motion falls short of addressing some of the issues facing the transport network.”
Cumnock SNP Councillor Jim McMahon questioned the figures from campaign group Railfuture used in support of the Conservative push.
They claim that 200,000 people would use Cumnock Railway Station and 120,000 would use Mauchline if built.
Cllr McMahon said: “These figures seem inflated. 77,000 people use Auchinleck train station. 13,000 of these were season ticket journeys.”
He added that there was no capacity at Glasgow for more journeys and that the limitations were caused by the limited number of diesel trains and unlikelihood upgrade of the line to electric.
Councillor McFadzean suggested that the Conservatives would be happy to accept the amendments, but insisted on a working group being created.
He reiterated that the choice of the rail links was down to them being more financially feasible and better for the environment.
Cumnock Councillor Neill Watts, who has been at the forefront of the rail station campaign, seemed to back the move to look at different transport issues.
He said: “Opening up the working group to look at all areas of transportation is probably a good thing.”
However, after the meeting, he struck a less conciliatory note, writing on his website that the council voted to ‘focus on the fairy-tale proposal of a Mauchline by-pass and travel by bus and car.
“By failing to support our motion the SNP and Labour proved that they are pro-car and anti-environment.”
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