NESTRANS at 20 with Paul Finch, Director: Monday 1 December 2025

Regional Transport Partnerships arose out of a new approach to transport under the then Lab/Lib Dem Scottish Government coalition which believed that introduction of single-tier local government in 1996 had resulted in loss of the regional perspective.

An Act of 2005 and adoption of a National Transport Strategy in 2006 were followed in that year by emergence of seven RTPs, three of them (SPT and the single-tier Swestrans and Zet Trans) being public transport authorities, the other four (Sestran, Tactran, Hitrans and Nestran) operating on a partnership basis to pull together transport planning for coherent delivery in their respective areas.

Implementation of a Regional Transport Strategy for NE Scotland (the old Grampian Regional Council area minus Moray) is thus the primary purpose of Nestrans, the board of which has four elected members from both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire plus four appointed members, supported by an Executive team of nine staff. Nestrans has historically, and continues to work closely and successfully with various teams in each of its partner local authorities.

North-east Scotland combines areas of great prosperity and good connectivity with others that are deprived and suffer transport poverty. Drawing on previous studies, Nestrans quickly sought to draw together policy initiatives in order to demonstrate how improved transport provision could address problems in society. Set up in shadow form before acquiring a statutory basis, it soon secured a prime objective the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road and was one of the first to arrive at a City Deal with Holyrood and Westminster. Bus improvements have included a series of park and rides, rail has seen delivery of the Aberdeen Crossrail and local stations, and the city's South Harbour has opened. Always conscious that it is a cog in many wheels, it has also led the way on integrating transport policies with those on public health. Initiatives for sustainability have included hydrogen refuelling, hydrogen buses and e-cargo bikes, while the environment has benefited from public realm improvements and enforcement of a Low Emission Zone.

Key drivers are climate, health, the economy and equalities. Asks for the next Holyrood manifesto are Aberdeen Rapid Transit based on the Belfast Glider since a centralised bus policy is not working for the northeast, getting delivery back on track for upgraded rail infrastructure, accelerated walking and cycling routes, a safe and resilient strategic transport network, improved access to health and social care and support to freight and logistics for a successful energy transition. Themes for the coming times will include improved availability of electric vehicle charging-points so that rural as well as urban areas may benefit. and promoting living well locally while anticipating burgeoning health issues such as the explosion of diabetes. Looking ahead to the next twenty years there may have to be a greater concern for asset maintenance, our aging population, social and geographical inequalities and how non-digital natives are to be accommodated in a world that is likely to include autonomous cars as well as automated logistics.

In summary, Paul recognised and emphasised the contribution of regionalism for effective policy and project delivery in Scotland. There is an opportunity for joining up the different agendas - economy, land use, communities, health, innovation. New data can help us address inequalities - spatial, societal and health. We must learn to be increasingly agile with our expectations - our funding, communities and politics.

For further information on NESTRANS visit the Nestrans Website.

To view Paul's presentation, click on the Video Icon below.

Report by John Yellowlees.