NEWS RELEASE - February 2nd 2000

 

A701 road proposal given go-ahead: Midlothian Council given permission to rip up government transport policy

TRANSform Scotland (1) today condemned Transport Minister Sarah Boyack's failure to call Midlothian Council's A701 road project in for Public Inquiry. The controversial road project has been the subject of a fierce local residents' campaign (2) and is opposed by all local community councils, the principal environment and conservation organisations and the neighbouring local authority, the City of Edinburgh Council. The development has generated over 700 objections from local residents and has been the subject of petitions to the Scottish Parliament.

The decision not to call the project in for Local Public Inquiry follows a private meeting between Midlothian Councillors and the Transport Minister on Tuesday (1st February). It is understood that the Scottish Executive have made various "advisory comments" regarding the development (3) but that none of these are binding on the Council.

Colin Howden, Campaign Manager of TRANSform Scotland, said:
"The Scottish Executive's failure to call this project in for public inquiry raises serious questions about its commitment to sustainable transport and planning policies. The case against this road project on transport and planning grounds is overwhelming. Midlothian Council talks about a "strategic transport view" for the area but this seems to consist of carpeting the area with retail tin sheds and greenfield housing for car commuters." (4)

Colin Howden continued:
"There are few clearer cases where a development should have been called in for local scrutiny. If Sarah Boyack is not prepared to hold local authorities to account over destructive planning policies it is difficult to see how her attempts to control traffic growth and promote sustainable transport can work."

The three community councils in the area have all formally objected to the project as have a host of other groups including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. City of Edinburgh Council, in its recent Local Transport Strategy, called for the project to be reviewed because it would encourage car traffic, and in particular car commuting, to Edinburgh. Edinburgh Council have requested that a full "multi-modal" study of the corridor is conducted before any road project proceeds.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

(1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 60 organisations - including transport operators, local authorities, national 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 No Alignment Action Group has led the opposition to the project.

(3) Apparently about landscaping of Straiton bing in conjunction with SNH, assisting the establishment of a Park & Ride scheme at Burdiehouse, "investigating" rapid transit, pedestrianising Penicuik town-centre and providing convenient and sustainable public transport system in the corridor as rapidly as possible.

(4) Further details on TRANSform Scotland's objections to the project are available on request.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

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