Sue has launched her campaign for a new train station at Winchburgh.
A new Winchburgh station is a vital missing link which will give Winchburgh people direct access to national train services, and Sue Webber MSP has met the transport minister to accelerate delivery.
Sue told the SNP Minister a station was essential because Winchburgh people need a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to the car to access jobs and services in Edinburgh. Winchburgh is set to be home for over 4,000 families due to a massive expansion agreed as part of the Edinburgh City Region Deal, going from 1,800 homes in 2021 to 4,100 in eight years’ time. As well as new schools and a neighbourhood centre with health facilities, the new Winchburgers were also promised a railway station to give ready access to the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line, reviving a service withdrawn in 1930.
A West Lothian Council report has indicated Transport Scotland are now likely to approve a new station, but in the meantime the cost of building it has risen by around £10m. Money is available through the Edinburgh City Regional Deal’s £50m infrastructure fund to support its seven strategic sites, including Winchburgh, because it’s understood £42m is unspent.
A new resident wrote to Sue recently to say one of the main reasons she moved to the area was the promise of modern transport, but if the station doesn’t happen, further house building could be limited to 750 units, and the housing crisis in the Lothians will worsen.
Winchburgh Developments funded a new junction on the M9 to allow direct access from the fast-expanding Winchburgh village. This is an extremely welcome addition but the residents bought their homes on the understanding there would be a station and this is vital if we are to reduce congestion, hit our net zero objectives and provide the vital public transport links for this expanding village .
Sue was the only Lothian MSP to attend the meeting with the Transport Minister, showing that the Scottish Conservatives are the only ones serious about improving services for the area. Sue will continue to work with the Scottish Government and West Lothian council to make this project a priority.