Councillors have welcomed proposals to expand Leuchars Railway Station car park.
However, concern has been expressed that if Fife Council is successful in its bid to secure money from the Transport Scotland Station Fund towards the costs, then ownership of the car park could fall out of the council’s hands and into that of Network Rail.
Confusion over the implications of a potentially successful bid to the Transport Scotland fund arose on Wednesday as Fife Council’s north east Fife area committee was updated on the proposals to expand parking at Leuchars Railway Station and introduce a £1 per day charge.
The expansion plans were given a boost a fortnight ago when Fife Council’s budget pledged £350,000 of funding to increase the existing 156 spaces by a further 110 spaces.
The principle of expansion has been welcomed by councillors as there is an overcrowding problem at the car park, with surveys showing up to around 35 cars a day being parked on the roadside or illegally.
But Jane Findlay, Fife Council’s lead professional for climate change/carbon reduction/environment, told the committee no money would be spent until it was clear exactly what funding was available and what the implications might be if a portion of the £30 million Transport Scotland Station Fund money was secured.
She said this application was being coordinated by SEStran.
Responding to the concerns of Tay Bridgehead councillor Tim Brett, she confirmed that without the Transport Scotland money, there would be enough funds to go ahead with a car park but this would likely be a more basic model without safety barriers. Discussions also had to take place with landowners, she said.
She said the estimated cost for the expansion was £450,000 at 2013 prices, up from £350,000 in 2010. Mr Brett said proposed charges were “not unreasonable” given there had been charges at Cupar railway station car park for years.
But with buses also using the station, Councillor Karen Marjoram called for a wider investigation into whether it could be developed as a park and ride transport hub. If Transport Scotland money was secured, she questioned if a £1 charge was necessary.
An update will be brought to a future committee.