John Robertson MP has today discovered that the Renfrew -Yoker ferry, which runs from his constituency to the neighbouring Renfrewshire, is to be axed by the SPT due to a lack of funding from the Scottish Executive.

Mr. Robertson said; “Having had discussions with the SPT, I am left with no doubt that this decision to cut this ferry route is down to a lack of funding from the Scottish Executive”.

John Robertson MP added; “It’s yet another example of the SNP led Scottish Executive being anti-Glasgow and not funding transport – there is clearly no place for Glasgow in the SNP’s Scotland”.

The Renfrew -Yoker Ferry which links the north and south bank of the River Clyde. It is 500 years old and is one of Scotland’s oldest passenger ferries. The ferries can carry up to 50 passengers and carries 150,000 passengers a year, at and cost £1.20 for a single adult journey.

This is not the first cut the SNP administration in Holyrood has inflicted on the people of Glasgow. The recent decision last year by the SNP administration to cancel a £170 million rail project to link the city centre with Glasgow Airport has had a cost of a thousand jobs that could have gone to local people. Removing £300million of investment to the Glasgow area, and the project would actually have provided substantial improvements in public transport in the West of Scotland.

John added; “Alex Salmond has double the budget, which Donald Dewar, my predecessor had just ten years ago, but not even half the commitment that Donald had to the people of Glasgow.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. This is the second successive cut to transport infrastructure in Glasgow from the SNP administration following the Glasgow Airport link.
2. In October 2008 the SPT decided against replacing the ferry service with a bridge due to the feasibility study finding that a foot bridge could cost between £11m and £15m.

The Hon. John Robertson MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow North West, which comprises the community of Yoker.

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