A city councillor has urged Network Rail to “get on with it” after they lost their appeal to the Scottish Government about clean-up work at Aberdeen station.
Aberdeen City Council gave Network Rail a four-month deadline from October 31, 2016 to tidy up the station by clearing debris from the glass canopies and structures in platforms 1 to 7, cleaning up bird droppings, and removing nests.
The transport firm appealed to the Scottish Government but, following an inspection by the latter’s reporter, Don Rankin, they have now been given six months to carry out the work.
The authority’s finance convener, Willie Young, yesterday welcomed the decision from Holyrood.
He said: “We’re happy the Scottish Government have decided Network Rail need to get on and develop the proposals we asked them to.
“We don’t go to such lengths to put in such orders unless we are confident about what is needed.
“This is what is needed and that is why the Scottish Government have agreed with our position.
“Now we would hope common sense prevails and they [Network Rail] get on and do the work in the agreed timescale for the betterment of the citizens of Aberdeen.”
The company had claimed the implementation of the work would require no train services to be running from, to or through Aberdeen.
However, in a statement, they vowed that any disruption would be kept to a minimum.
They stated: “We would look to minimise anything like that by either working at night or timing it for a date when services are being altered for other work.”
Mr Young believes some disruption would be justified, if the train station is enhanced.
He added: “It is a concern if the network is disrupted, but as we know with our roads, there is a time when things need to be done and, as we have seen, there will be disruption.
“Network Rail need to understand that, to get things done, there may be disruption, but once they do the work, you will find a better rail station in Aberdeen and that can only be a good thing for those who use the service.”
If Network Rail do not advance with the proposals, the council might take legal action.
