NEWS RELEASE - October 7th 1999

 

McConnell gets spending priorities wrong on transport

TRANSform Scotland (1) today questioned Finance Minister Jack McConnell's spending priorities in announcing increased spending on roads. In yesterday's announcement, McConnell said that he was "very pleased to be recommending ... an increase of £35 million to the roads programme" over the next two years. But TRANSform Scotland are critical of McConnell for failing to recognise the country's impatience for better public transport.

Colin Howden, Campaign Manager of TRANSform Scotland, said: "The extra £35 million funds for roads follows above-inflation spending announced earlier this year. But direct Government investment in better public transport remains stuck at the pitiful level of £30 million a year. People want improved public transport but Jack McConnell has ignored public transport users with this announcement. Perhaps Mr McConnell should re-assess his spending priorities to reflect the widespread desire for improved public transport rather than caving in to the special pleading of the Tories and the SNP for new road building."

The extra £35 million follows above-inflation spending announced in April of £58 million over three years [Scottish Office press release 01/04/99]. (2) Government investment in local public transport via the Scottish Public Transport Fund however remains stuck at £30 million a year for three years - with no planned increases in its level. The first year's £30 million is already spent and local authorities have already made their bids for the second round of spending from the Fund.

Colin Howden of TRANSform Scotland concluded:
"Labour has been correct to reallocate spending from road-building to road maintenance - as this area was neglected under the previous administration. Transport Minister Sarah Boyack will now have to think very carefully about whether this £35 million is to be spent on maintaining the road network or on new road building - a policy described in last year's Transport White Paper as 'unaffordable, unsustainable and, ultimately, self-defeating.' (3) Or be consistent with their policies and switch some of this money to the Public Transport Fund."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
(1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 58 organisations - including transport operators, local authorities, environment and conservation groups, chambers of commerce and 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) The result of the Comprehensive Spending Review meant that Government spend on trunk roads in Scotland in 1999-2000 is £185.8 million. This is to rise at an above-inflation to £198.8 million in 2000-1 and £209.2 million in 2001-2. [Scottish Office press release 0868/99 01/04/99].

(3) Scottish Transport White Paper, 'Travel Choices for Scotland' (July 1998), section 2.2.7.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

| HOME | NEWS |