Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, 04 Sep 2006
Meeting date: Monday, September 4, 2006
Official Report
416KB pdf
Item in Private
Good morning everybody. I formally open the second meeting in 2006 of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, which is our first oral evidence meeting. We have a full house, so there are no apologies.
The purpose of today's proceedings is to hear evidence from the promoter and a range of other witnesses on the general principles of the bill. The issue at the heart of our consideration is whether there should be a railway between Airdrie and Bathgate. We will hear evidence on the general overview and the need for the railway; on how the railway will fit within local, regional and national transport plans; on alternatives to achieving the bill's policy objectives; and on economic development and social regeneration. The committee is grateful to all those who responded to our request for written evidence on those and other issues.
The committee undertook a site visit along the route of the proposed railway. That was very helpful in broadening our understanding of the issues surrounding the project and the general location of the proposed route and stations, as well as some of the properties close to the line.
It is hoped that we will break for lunch about 12.30 pm for about an hour, although we will decide that later. Depending on the progress we make, we may take a further short break in the afternoon. Members of the public are of course welcome to leave the meeting at any time, but I would ask them to do so quietly. Although the meeting is being held in public, it is not a public meeting; it is the formal work of the Parliament and I would appreciate everyone's co-operation in ensuring the proper conduct of business.
I ask everyone to ensure that all mobile phones and pagers are switched off.
Agenda item 1 is to obtain the committee's agreement to discuss in private the evidence that we hear. Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.