Plans to improve transport links at a bustling Aberdeenshire train station have moved up a gear.
Councillors in Garioch have backed plans to buy a disused freight yard at Inverurie railway station to build a car park to relieve pressure on the town’s existing spaces.
The long-awaited transport exchange would also include bus stops, footpaths and cycling facilities. The foundations for a multi-storey car park could also be laid at the site to meet future demand.
Inverurie councillor Bryan Stuart welcomed the plans, and said: “It will greatly enhance parking provision to help service the massive increase due in the line’s potential capacity, and will assist town centre traffic flow, while making it more pedestrian friendly.”
Councillor Fergus Hood, chairman of the Garioch committee, said he was pleased the project was finally moving forward after lengthy negotiations.
He said: “Council officers have worked very hard behind the scenes for more than seven years to gain agreement from Network Rail and the rail freight operators to dispose of the former freight yard in Inverurie to enable the project to proceed.
“The process has not been easy with so many different organisations involved.”
Plans for an interchange were first put forward as far back as 2002, and Aberdeenshire East MSP Alex Salmond has previously sought answers from the authority about the delays in bringing a report forward for councillors to consider.
Last night he said: “The real credit should go to the Inverurie Business Association and local community in bringing us to this point.
“They’ve worked extremely hard to get politicians of all colours and the relevant agencies on board.”