Jamie Hepburn MSP Working for the people of Central Scotland Strategy and Policy Integration Team 6th Floor Transport Scotland Buchanan House 58 Port Dundas Road Glasgow G4 0HF By email to: [email protected] 4th September 2009 Dear Sharon Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Transport Scotland’s consultation on Station Car Parking Policy in Scotland. I believe that the rail network is one of the most important parts of Scotland’s national infrastructure, and increasingly so as the need to promote alternatives to car use for environmental, social and economic reasons becomes clearer. Car parking facilities at railway stations therefore have an important role to play in reducing overall car journeys and associated carbon emissions. In my response to Transport Scotland Consultation on Initiatives Related to the Scotrail Franchise Extension (November 2008), I stated: Car parking and park-and-ride facilities at key interchanges should be monitored and expanded to meet, stimulate and increase demand. I also highlighted the importance of through-ticketing initiatives such as ‘plusbus’, ‘oneticket’ and ‘Oyster card’-style schemes that would encourage public transport use at either side of the rail journey. This is equally applicable to journeys that begin with a car: straightforward, reliable and cost- effective bus connections at the end of the rail portion of the journey will be an extra incentive to leave the car behind, when the alternative may have been to make the entire journey by car. In the Central Scotland region which I represent, as the consultation paper notes is true for the whole country, there is no consistent car-parking policy at Jamie Hepburn MSP for Central Scotland Reply to: Parliamentary Office Rm M5.06, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP [email protected] Tel 0131 348 6573 – Fax 0131 348 6575 Jamie Hepburn MSP Working for the people of Central Scotland railway stations. This is not necessarily a bad situation, if it means that local parking availability has evolved to meet demand in different areas. The consultation document is correct, however, in highlighting the need for a proper understanding of the demand for parking at any given station and for thorough investigation of any options to change present arrangements. The document states its finding that many passengers will travel to a station with parking facilities rather than use their nearest station, and I believe this is certainly the case in the Cumbernauld area, where many car owners will drive to Croy to make a journey into Glasgow when the Cumbernauld station, which has very limited parking, may be closer. Again, this is not necessarily a bad situation if it reduces the overall amount of car journeys into Glasgow, and if it is as a result of greater frequency and better accessibility at Croy station. Demand on both the Cumbernauld and Croy lines is only likely to increase, however, as plans for the electrification of the central Scotland rail network are implemented. In any changes or policy resulting from this policy review, it is important to make sure that these do not act as a disincentive for people who wish to park their cars at a station in order to continue their journey by train. This is particularly true with regard to pricing. The consultation document indicates that further study might be needed on the impact of pricing on existing ‘suppressed demand’. It seems reasonable to assume that, on the whole, increased pricing will reduce overall demand, with a consequent reduction of train use and potential increase of longer car journeys and carbon emissions. Where parking is currently free of charge, for example at Croy station, I can see little good reason to introduce charging. The Scottish Government has recently ended parking fees at non-PFI NHS Hospitals, recognising the cost and inconvenience sometimes could make visiting a hospital prohibitive when it otherwise would not have been. While the situation is not exactly the same, there is a broad principle of accessing an important public service without unnecessary costs that can also apply to use of the railways, which as stated above I believe should be considered a vital part national infrastructure and not simply a commercial, profit-driven operation. Where car parks are to be expanded or introduced, the opportunity should also be taken to ensure easy integration with other public transport modes, especially easy access for buses. Secure and dry cycle storage should also be considered where appropriate. It is also important that accessibility for disabled passengers and passengers with small children and heavy luggage be considered in developing parking facilities. Jamie Hepburn MSP for Central Scotland Reply to: Parliamentary Office Rm M5.06, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP [email protected] Tel 0131 348 6573 – Fax 0131 348 6575 Jamie Hepburn MSP Working for the people of Central Scotland In conclusion, I believe that any general parking policy introduced as a result of this consultation should be flexible enough to meet, and indeed stimulate, local needs and demand. A presumption against parking fees, as exists at NHS sites, should be considered, and an emphasis on public transport use to complete at least one leg of any journey should be encouraged. I would be happy to discuss any of these issues further as appropriate. Yours sincerely, Jamie Hepburn MSP Jamie Hepburn MSP for Central Scotland Reply to: Parliamentary Office Rm M5.06, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP [email protected] Tel 0131 348 6573 – Fax 0131 348 6575 .