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Prescott's Transport White Paper "watered-down" for Scotland

While Monday's UK White Paper on Transport was welcomed for its positive measures to encourage people out of their cars, TRANSform Scotland today expressed its disappointment at the "watered-down" Scottish Office version published this morning.

David Spaven, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, said:
"This document is very long on promises of yet more consultation on transport policy but is extremely short on specific commitments to action in the short and medium term, and, crucially, omits any reference to targets for road traffic reduction."

Areas that compare unfavourably with John Prescott's White Paper include:

• Roads. While TRANSform Scotland welcomes the commitment to reviewing the criteria for road-building to encompass environmental costs, and to examine sustainable transport alternatives (a "corridor approach" encompassing all modes of transport), there is a suggestion in the document that motorway toll funds could be used to build yet more new motorways. In contrast, in England, the Highways Agency will from now on have a road network maintenance rather than road-building role.
• Local transport policies. While the Scottish Office has only "invited" local authorities to draw up 'Local Transport Strategies', in marked contrast English local authorities are required to produce 'Local Transport Plans', with new funding criteria which stress environmental and social aims.
• Walking and cycling. While John Prescott is keen to push local transport measures like 'Safe Routes to Schools' and 'Home Zones' (residential areas where speeds are limited to 5-10mph), the Scottish White Paper makes no new commitments in this area, both in terms of investment in traffic calming, and targets to increase journeys done by these modes.

TRANSform Scotland's Chair David Spaven said:
"A number of specific major road schemes are flagged up as potential priorities despite the fact that these are meant to be part of an ongoing Strategic Roads Review. Why are there no references to specific rail route re-opening opportunities when these could have a crucial role in providing imaginative multi-modal 'corridor packages' along key routes?"

David Spaven continued:
"At the launch today, the Secretary of State, Donald Dewar, referred, unprompted, to the possibility of completing the motorway box round Glasgow. This gives us cause for concern that the Scottish Office has already decided to go ahead with the M74 Northern Extension and a six-lane M8 without fully considering the genuine alternatives based on rail enhancements, bus priority and generally making better use of existing road space."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
(1) TRANSform Scotland brings together 50 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.

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