NEWS RELEASE - September 27th 2000

Transport spending announcement: Boyack must deliver on demand for quality public transport

Colin Howden, Campaign Manager of TRANSform Scotland, said: "The Scottish Executive must start delivering on the public demand for improved public transport. We've had decades of governments throwing money at road-building but traffic levels are worse than ever. The Scottish Executive must now focus its efforts on providing alternatives to driving so that traffic levels can be reduced."

TRANSform Scotland believes that the Executive must focus its spending on value-for-money projects rather than uncosted wishlists of projects.

Dr. Colin Guthrie, TRANSform Scotland Director & Glasgow GP, said:

"An improved and safe environment for all vulnerable road users should feature at the top of governmentÍs transport spending priorities. Most journeys are very local. Half of all journeys are shorter than two miles, and 70% less than five miles. Only by investing in walking and cycling are we likely to meet national public health targets for exercise while making a real impact on traffic levels."

Colin Howden warned of the dangers of more road-building being announced:

"If we see more money being thrown at road building, we will have to conclude that the Scottish Executive has lost its bottle in tackling rising traffic levels and the resultant pollution and congestion. The Executive is correct to direct funds towards a better managed and maintained trunk road network - but more new roads will expose the Executive's professed commitment towards sustainable transport as a hollow sham."

"The Labour Party made no commitments to road-building in its 1999 manifesto and the Partnership Agreement signed by Labour and the Lib Dems following the election said nothing on road-building. But since then we've seen the Executive throw money at new roads schemes without evaluating the cost-effective and environmentally-responsible alternatives. (1) Labour's manifesto commitments to public transport, walking and cycling have however been painfully slow in delivery. (2)"

For more information, see two-page briefing, as sent to MSPs, available for download as a PDF file. (194K)

ENDS

Note to Editors:

(1) In the Strategic Roads Review announcement less than a year ago (November 1999), Boyack gave the go-ahead for five road schemes costing £140 million in total. None of these were appraised against transport alternatives using a "multi-modal' corridor analysis.

The Scottish Executive have already announced above-inflation increases in road spending this year (SE news release SE0937/2000, 31/03/00), bringing the total to £444 million over two years. This follows two above-inflation increases in roads expenditure in 1999 (news releases 0868/99, 01/04/99; SE0817/1999, 06/10/99).

(2) The Public Transport Fund is stuck at £30 million per annum this year, rail re-openings remain halted, and the Labour Party's manifesto commitment to "extend support for cycling and walking" has yet to be delivered on.

END OF PRESS RELEASE