NEWS RELEASE - Wednesday 25th October

M74 planning permission expires: call for better public involvement in planning process

TRANSform Scotland, the national sustainable transport campaign (1), today (Wednesday 25th) celebrated the expiring of the planning permission for the M74 Northern Extension (2), with a call for any new project to be subject to full public scrutiny. The developers of the project - a 10-lane urban motorway across south Glasgow costed at more than £300 million - will now have to win renewed planning permission for any replacement projects proposed.

TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager Colin Howden said:

"With Glasgow City Council as developer as well as planning authority, there is real concern over the fairness of the planning process. Give the sheer scale of the project, the Scottish Executive must reassure people that such any new motorway-building proposals will be subject to full public scrutiny at public inquiry. A failure to do so would only reinforce the Scottish Executive's reputation for ineptitude in planning matters."

Local groups objecting to the 1995 planning application for the M74 felt that Glasgow City Council's attitude to those making valid objections to the planning procedure was cursory.

Colin Howden said:

"Glasgow Council has failed to build this project within the five years of the planning permission. Even if a new planning permission was to be immediately, it will be at least another five years before they could open this road. Glasgow City Council must instead look at improving traffic management on the existing road network and on delivering on long-awaited cross-Glasgow public transport and rail freight facilities." (3)

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

(1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 68 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 planning permission runs out on Wednesday 25/10/00.

(3) For more information on alternatives to the M74 see 'Joint Action against M74' briefing available at http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/publications.html or on request.

(4) TRANSform Scotland is a member of 'Joint Action against the M74' (JAM74). For more information see http://www.geocities.com/jam74_uk