Transport challenge issued to Scotland's political parties:
make sure your MSPs are not going to drive to Holyrood!
27 August 1998
Tomorrow morning, Friday 28th, TRANSform Scotland launches a challenge to Scotland's political parties at its conference 'Transport Policy on the Road to Holyrood', at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the Royal Mile (1). TRANSform Scotland, an alliance of 52 organisations (2), wants the Scottish political parties to commit their MSPs to getting to the Holyrood Parliament at least half of the time by public transport, walking and cycling.
The conference brings together representatives of all Scotland's main political parties to debate a solution to Scotland's problems. The speakers include David Begg (Labour Party), Convener of Transportation at City of Edinburgh Council, and Stewart Hosie, SNP Transport Spokesperson.(2)
Colin Howden, Campaign Manager of TRANSform Scotland, commented:
"With the Scottish elections only next spring, we need to see now what the Scottish political parties have got to offer in addressing Scotland's transport needs. This Conference will give the parties an opportunity to vigorously debate the issues at hand, under the eyes of an audience of Scotland's transport operators, local authorities, and environmental groups."
Colin Howden continued:
"The decision to choose the Holyrood site went against specialist advice to the Scottish Office that a Calton Hill site offered the best option for transport and the environment. (4) Now the Scottish parties will have to ensure that their MSPs get there on foot, by cycle or by public transport. We want to see a specific commitment made by the parties to a minimum of 50% of trips made by these modes of transport. After all, taking public transport didn't do Ken Livingstone's popularity any harm in London!"
ENDS
Contacts:
Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, on 0131-467-7714 (office) or 0956-394121.
David Spaven, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, on 0141-433-2723.
Notes:
(1) TRANSform Scotland brings together 52 organisations - including 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; E-mail: campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk; web: http://www.transformscotland.org.uk
(2) Each of Scotland's main political parties are speaking: (a) David Begg, Convener of Transportation at City of Edinburgh Council (Labour), (b) Stuart Hosie, Transport Spokesperson for the SNP, (c) Cllr Margaret Smith (Scottish Lib Dems), City of Edinburgh Council Liberal Democrat Group Transport Spokesperson, (d) Ben Wallace, Commissioner for Transport on the Rifkind Commission (Conservatives), (e) Murray Falconer, transport spokesperson for the Scottish Green Party.
(3) The 'Comparative Transport & Environmental Assessment' for the Scottish Parliament Building (Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick in association with Ironside Farrar & Holford Associates, January 1998), produced for the Scottish Office, concluded that the Regent Road (Calton Hill) site "represents the option with the most transport and environmental benefits and best fits with current and emerging Government Policy on transport and environment."
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