NEWS RELEASE:

NEW CAMPAIGN GROUP CALLS FOR SCOTTISH OFFICE TO PURSUE ALTERNATIVES TO M74 NORTHERN EXTENSION

The new campaign group, TRANSform Scotland, is urging the Scottish Secretary to undertake a thorough examination of sustainable alternatives to the controversial proposal for a £250 million extension of the M74 motorway through sout east Glasgow to the M8.

TRANSform Scotland, which is being established by leading transport and environmental organisations north of the border, has reponded to recent calls by sections of the business lobby for the M74 Glasgow Extension to be put at the top of the Scottish roads programme by asking Mr Dewar to undertake a 'thorough and urgent scrutiny of realistic alternative transport and land use strategies to meet economic and environmental needs along this corridor.'

In the attached letter, Mr Tom Hart, Convener of the Working Group which is launching TRANSform Scotland, welcomes the commitment of the new Scottish Office to 'an integrated and sustainable transport strategy and applauds the recent deicision to review the Scottish road programme to ensure that new roads are only proposed where better, more sustainable solutions are not feasible or available'. The letter argues that the needs of corridor movement and East End regeneration can be met more effectively other than by provision of a motorway.

TRANSform Scotland, whihch will be formally launched in the autumn, is bing established with the strong support of Transport 2000, the national environmental transport campaign. Some 20 existing Scottish organisations are nvolved, including friends of the Esrth Scotland, Scottish Associstion for Public Transport, Railway Development Society and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

ENDS