Spending plans announcement: Executive must tackle historic under-investment in public transportTRANSform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport, today called on Finance Minister Jack McConnell to use his spending plan announcement, due this afternoon, to tackle Scotland's historic under-investment in public transport - and introduce measures to make the streets safer for walkers and cyclists.TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager Colin Howden said: "We hear the constant refrain that people won't leave their cars at home until public transport is improved. Jack McConnell must use this opportunity to show the Scottish Executive is truly committed to better public transport and less traffic. McConnell must make it clear that the Executive will invest in public transport, not just talk about doing so." TRANSform Scotland also wants the Executive to make a commitment to funding the small-scale, value-for-money, traffic management schemes that can bring about a safer local environment, while contributing to its public health and social inclusion objectives. Colin Howden said: "Half of all journeys are less than two miles and yet the Executive spends almost no money on encouraging people to walk. The Executive can make a major impact on urban traffic congestion in a value-for-money way by investing in Safe Routes to School, Home Zones and traffic calming for residential areas, and walking and cycling provision for short trips. On press reports that the Executive may direct more money towards road-building, Colin Howden said: "The Executive must resist calls for high expenditure on major road proposals. The Executive will not cure congestion problems by throwing money at new roads: that is like trying to tackle a weight problem by buying bigger trousers. The Executive is correct to direct funds towards a better managed and maintained trunk road network - but if we see further substantial increases in money for road-building, the Executive's professed commitment towards sustainable transport will be exposed as a sham." (2) ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 67 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) Scottish Executive have managed to announce three above-inflation increases in roads expenditure in the space of one year (news releases 0868/99, 01/04/99; SE0817/1999, 06/10/99; SE0937/2000, 31/03/00) and yet have failed to make available substantial extra funding for sustainable transport (public transport, cycling & walking) provision. END OF NEWS RELEASE
|