NEWS RELEASE

Treasury urged to reject new road spending plans 12th June 1998 TRANSform Scotland today raised its concerns on funding proposals for road-building with a letter to Alistair Darling MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This follows leaks from the Treasury suggesting the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) has been lobbying the Treasury for more money for trunk roads in the Government's forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. (1) TRANSform Scotland Chair David Spaven said, "With the Transport White Papers now delayed to the end of July, we hope the Treasury isn't going to prejudice their success by ring-fencing money for road-building. The Comprehensive Spending Review should be shifting money away from roads and towards local transport plans, including bus, cycle and pedestrian facilities." TRANSform Scotland's letter to Alistair Darling, dated 10/6/98, is attached for publication. ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) For example, the Guardian ("Brown plans big increase in public spending",11/6/98) has suggested that Gordon Brown will announce in his speech at the Mansion House on 11/6/98 that new spending may be diverted to transport projects. (2) TRANSform Scotland brings together 49 organisations - transport operators, Local Authorities, national environment campaigns & local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland. We can be contacted at 72 Newhaven Road, EDINBURGH, EH6 5QG. Tel.: 0131 467 7714; Fax: 0131 554 8656. END OF NEWS RELEASE