CAMPAIGN URGES REJECTION OF LEITH SITE FOR SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Monday 15th September 1997

The new campaign for sustainable transport, TRANSform Scotland, has urged the Government to reject Leith as the site for the Scottish Parliament because of its inaccessibility to high-quality inter-regional public transport. Following its first Board Meeting in Edinburgh at the weekend, the Chair of TRANSform Scotland, David Spaven has written to Minister of State Henry McLeish pressing the case for a central Edinburgh location for the new Parliament building. In his letter Mr Spaven says:

"As experience with the shift of civil servants (and visitors to The Scottish Office) from New St Andrew's House to Victoria Quay in Leith has clearly demonstrated, an off-centre location is inevitably more difficult for public transport to serve, and as a consequence there is a big increase in car use and associated road congestion and environmental impact. To site the Scottish Parliament in Leith would contradict the Government's commitment to an integrated transport policy and a planning system which discourages unnecessary travel."

The campaigning group also reject the edge-of-city Gyle for the Parliament because of its lack of comprehensive access to inter-regional rail routes. Instead the Government is urged to choose a location "within easy walking distance" of Waverley Rail Station / St Andrew's Square Bus Station or Haymarket Rail Station.

TRANSform Scotland, which backs greater priority for public transport, walking and cycling, will be formally launched in November. The current 26 member organisations cover a wide spectrum of transport and environmental interests, including the City of Edinburgh and West Lothian Councils, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Railtrack Scotland, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Stagecoach bus company.

ENDS