Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson (SNP) has taken the bold step of contacting directly residents in communities around the proposed reopened rail stop at Conon Bridge after becoming concerned by a constant flow of misinformation about funding responsibility for the facility from opposition politicians.

Mr Thompson, whose extensive campaign for improved rail safety measures in the Highlands has gained national prominence, is a keen supporter of a proposal to reopen the former rail stop at Conon Bridge and he has arranged a local meeting with the Transport Minister to try to move the issue forward.

He was disappointed to see that the Lib Dem-led administration at Highland Council, which has responsibility for funding locally-important transport investments, had allocated just £100,000 towards the estimated £1.1 million cost of reopening the facility in its five year capital plan, published a few weeks ago.

It is understood that this money will be used to fund car parking spaces and signs for the new station but this leaves a funding gap of £1 million.

Following the Scottish Government's concordat with local authorities, responsibility for meeting this commitment was transferred to local transport partnerships (HITRANs in the Highlands). The responsibilities and budget of HITRANs have since been absorbed by Highland Council.

Despite this, local members of the Lib Dem Party have repeatedly stated that the Scottish Government must fill the £1 million funding gap.

Mr Thompson said “The LibDem led Council should accept its own responsibilities and also look to a wider range of funders to help with this important project. I am sure the Minister will come up with some constructive suggestions at the meeting which will involve Highland Council and the Conon Bridge Community Council but the main responsibility still lies with the Council which had a £60 million capital budget this year.

"I have checked and rechecked where responsibility for funding the capital costs for this type of locally important initiative lies," Mr Thompson said.

"Both the Scottish Government's transport team and Transport Scotland have categorically told me that, while the running costs of the station will be met by the Scottish Government through a subsidy paid to the rail company via Transport Scotland, the capital costs of opening the stop are the responsibility of the local authority.

"For the Lib Dems on Highland Council to fail to meet that responsibility while calling for the stop to be opened as soon as possible and for other figures within the party to add their voice to these mistaken claims is disingenuous and seems to be driven by a desire to throw enough mud at the Scottish Government in the hope that some of it will stick.

"That is why I felt it was important that the population most affected by any decision to reopen Conon Rail Stop is given accurate information about the situation. I felt the best way to do this was through an information leaflet which details the true situation, rather than the misinformation peddled by the Lib Dems."

This leaflet, entitled "The Truth About Conon Rail Stop", will be delivered to all households in the Conon Bridge and Maryburgh area over the next few days.