By Liz Fowler

THE FINAL element of a multi-million-pound integrated transport hub in the Mearns was completed yesterday with the opening of a £450,000 car park at Laurencekirk railway station.

It provides 70 spaces, including five spaces reserved for drivers with a disability, and is linked by a fully accessible footbridge to the station. It also includes full CCTV coverage linked to the ScotRail customer service centre.

It caters for the high passenger levels at the station, which has seen demand exceed pre-opening forecasts by 80%. Over 22,000 journeys have been made to and from Laurencekirk since the station reopened in May, and current projections are that 65,000 passengers are set to use the station in its first year of operation.

With 10 services a day in each direction from the station, the opening of the car park broadens the choice for passengers as to how they get there, with park-and- ride, passenger drop-off, or use of a local demand-responsive transport service.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said, “Laurencekirk has been a tremendous success since it opened earlier this year as part of the Scottish Government’s extensive rail investment programme.

“We believe the new car park will make it even easier for people to make the switch to a more sustainable mode of transport.”

The scheme plays a key part in the regional strategy of north-east transport partnership Nestrans.

Its chairman, Councillor Kevin Stewart, said, “It’s great to see the final part of this key project in place.

“It’s the latest in a series of key moves to create better local rail services for the people of the north-east, and we expect to see further projects come to fruition in the coming years.

“We actively promoted and funded this project because it broadens transport choices for people in the local area and makes for a more efficient transport network all round.”

Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson added, “This is a real boost for the local community by allowing excellent access to the new rail services for everyone across the Mearns.

“This project demonstrates the commitment that the council and Nestrans have to investing in transport infrastructure, improving access to jobs, education and leisure.

“The opening of this car park should help to promote further increases in passenger numbers.”

The grade B-listed station reopened after being transformed through a £3.5 million investment, with Scottish Government funding provided by Transport Scotland and Nestrans, supported by Aberdeenshire Council and a Railway Heritage Trust grant.