THE ROW simmering between Montrose councillors and those who voted against allowing the Arbroath road train to visit the burgh in the summer continued to build up steam yesterday.

Montrose independent councillor Mark Salmond’s comments in yesterday’s Courier led his Arbroath independent counterpart Bob Spink to ask Montrosians to take a “reality check.”

Mr Spink said, “I am amazed that individuals in Montrose persist in selfishly attempting to put forward a case for hijacking the Arbroath road train.

“I repeat the principal case for the Arbroath members’ stance.

“The cost in lost revenue to Arbroath incurred by taking the train to Montrose during one of the busiest weeks of the tourist year would outweigh by far any gain to Montrose.

“Golfing visitors to Montrose are there to watch golf, not to go for hurlies on the road train.

“Weigh this against the families who visit Arbroath and whose young children look forward to a trip on the road train as a part of their holiday.

“It makes no sense and it is Montrose’s shame for making such an issue of it— or is there an election in the offing?”

Mr Spink attacked Mr Salmond’s stance on cash to subsidise the attraction.

He said, “Mr Salmond’s claim that the Angus taxpayer is subsidising the Arbroath road train to the tune of £10,000 per annum becomes a spit in the ocean when compared to the subsidy Angus, and Arbroath, Monifieth, and Carnoustie in particular, pour into Montrose.

“Who does Mr Salmond think subsidises the Montrose Town Hall (£504,000), the Mid Links restoration (£2,065,000), the Montrose seafront development (£860,000), the Montrose town centre improvements (£824,000), the Montrose Inner Relief Road (£4,752,000), the Montrose Bridge replacement (£8,796,000), all of which greatly benefit the tourism and economic future of Montrose?”

He attacked “the relentless girning,” adding, “‘Have pity on Montrose for once,” said my friend Councillor George Norrie, like the beggar with the Rolls parked round the corner.

“This whole issue has opened a can of worms far greater than the road train.

“It has prompted a reality check on capital spend across Angus and upon which I have for the last few months been doing some research.

“For Arbroath, Monifieth, and Carnoustie it means— read it and weep!”

Mr Spink also dismissed Mr Salmond’s suggestion losses incurred by the road train should be met by Arbroath common good fund, as it is “not a common good asset.”

He also cited the council’s approval for money for an all-weather pitch at Montrose FC, saying Arbroath has relatively few hotel spaces, and larger employment problems.

He added, “I paraphrase —‘Have pity on Arbroath for once.’”