Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson (SNP) has welcomed support from a fellow North MSP for his campaign to install barriers on the country's open level crossings.

Mr Thompson has campaigned on the issue since his election in 2007 and last year conducted a major public consultation exercise to gauge the level of support for the measure.

This week it emerged that Jamie Stone (Lib Dem MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) had decided to submit a motion to parliament calling for the Scottish Government to fund the measure in the wake of an accident in his constituency last September in which three members of the same family were killed when their car collided with a train at a level crossing on the outskirts of Halkirk.

"I was pleased to see that Jamie Stone has recognised the overwhelming need for the introduction of barriers on level crossings to help prevent this type of accident," Mr Thompson said. "All support is welcome.

"I have submitted an amendment to his motion to make clear that the Scottish Government has been playing an active part in making progress on this issue as he may not have been aware of my negotiations with ministers about funding since this has been conducted in private.

"I am still very hopeful that I will be able to achieve a positive outcome on this matter for everyone concerned about the issue."

Notes:

Concern over public safety at this type of Open Level Crossing was brought back into focus in September when three members of the same family were killed when their car collided with a train at an open level crossing in Halkirk, Caithness.

Donald MacKay (66), who lived at the Forse House nursing home in Latheron, his brother Angus MacKay (81) and sister-in-law Margaret MacKay, also 81, were killed in the collision.

Jamie Stone's motion to parliament:

S3M-05995 Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Continuing Loss of Life at Railway Level Crossings—
That the Parliament regrets the continuing loss of life at railway level crossings, most recently at Halkirk in Caithness and, in January 2009, at Gatehead in Kilmarnock and Loudoun; notes that there are 23 crossings in Scotland that are automatic open crossings, of which 21 are in the Highlands and two in Ardrossan; believes that crossings without barriers are intrinsically dangerous and inadequate for the task at hand; further believes that there can be no justification for not taking urgent action to stop further fatalities and injuries at rail crossings, and calls on the Scottish Government to work in conjunction with the many organisations and agencies involved in rail safety and direct Network Rail to install barriers at all 23 open crossings in Scotland.

Dave Thompson's amendment:

S3M-05995.1 Dave Thompson (Highlands & Islands)(SNP): Continuing Loss of Life at Railway Level Crossings -
As an amendment to motion S3M-05995 in the name of Jamie Stone (Continuing Loss of Life at Railway Level Crossings), leave out from "calls on" to end and insert "welcomes Dave Thompson MSP's level crossing campaign and the Scottish Government's efforts to progress this issue."