City park and ride 'is losing friends and alienating people'

Published on Monday 3 November 2008 08:56

ONE of the fiercest critics of the city's tram project has turned his attention to the £4.5 million park-and-ride facility at Straiton run by Lothian Buses.

Graham Russell – until recently chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses for Edinburgh – branded the facility "disgraceful" because its ticket office and waiting area are only open at peak times.

Mr Russell, who has spoken out about the damage the tram project is causing to traders in the city, is expected to be appointed as the official champion for the areas worst hit by the tram works in the coming weeks.

The role, which commands a 30,000-a-year salary for a three-day week, will be funded indirectly by tram firm TIE.

The money for the role is coming from the Open for Business campaign, which is promoting Edinburgh during the ongoing disruption.

Mr Russell said he used the park-and-ride facility for the first time on Friday afternoon on his way to a meeting between traders and representatives of TIE at the City Chambers.

He told the Evening News: "The ticket office was closed and I had to stand in a gale. I didn't know what bus to get and I wasn't the only one.

"I think it's totally disgraceful. As a member of the public, my first experience of the buses was very good, but at 63-years-old I want to sit down or go to the toilet before my bus comes and that wasn't possible at the park-and-ride.

"It's a brand new facility and yet there was no one there to ask about which bus to get."

Last month an investigation was launched after roof panels were blown off the facility's terminal building, less than three weeks after it opened.

Passengers described their lucky escape after high winds led to a number of panels being ripped off the waiting room at the 600-car-capacity site.

Despite being in Midlothian, the Straiton park-and-ride is operated by the city council.

The facility, which is next to the city bypass, opened on October 5 following years of legal wrangling over land.

The complex has cycling facilities and other features including CCTV and a real-time information board which tells waiting commuters when buses are due.

Iain Coupar, marketing director for Lothian Buses, said that previous experience of running park-and-ride facilities had shown the company the best times to have staff on site.

He said: "We know the busy times and we've got people there at peak times.

"The ticket office does shut at certain times and we have to share staff around our various sites.

"But you can still buy a ticket and get on a bus."