Scottish Transport Bill passed: some useful measures - but many missed opportunitiesTRANSform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport (1), today welcomed the passage of the Transport (Scotland) Bill through its final stage in the Scottish Parliament today - but question just how effective the new legislation will be in tackling Scotland's transport problems. The Bill enables local authorities to set up up Road User Charging projects in urban areas, provides a statutory framework for bus services ("Quality Partnerships" or "Quality Contracts") and provides for "Joint Transport Strategies" for joint working between local authorities. These are all welcome changes. However, the Executive: ¥ failed to make Local Transport Strategies a mandatory requirement of local authorities - unlike their English counterparts; ¥ failed to accept the need for a Road Traffic Reduction Strategy in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transport; ¥ ditched enabling powers for Workplace Parking Levy schemes following complaints from business groups (unlike in England where local authorities have been given this option); ¥ dropped plans for Trunk Road User Charging from the Bill following complaints from motoring groups; ¥ and wouldn't even consider a Retail Parking Levy proposal for fear of upsetting the supermarket industry. TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager Colin Howden said: "The Transport Bill has some useful measures but is a missed opportunity to make some genuinely radical changes to the quality and level of transport services in Scotland." "Giving local authorities the power to set up road user charging projects in congested urban areas is an important measure. Road user charging gives the opportunity of making road users pay an accurate price for their use of scarce road space in polluted, congested urban areas. However, the proposals have been watered down in the face of pressure from motoring groups and big business. The proposals are now so tied up in consultative processes that local authorities keen to cut pollution and congestion will be held up because the Scottish Executive is not prepared to stand up to the roads lobby." TRANSform Scotland is pleased that the Executive has finally seen sense and included a provision for 'Home Zones' in the Bill (2). This follows a year-long campaign by TRANSform Scotland and other groups in the 'Home Zones for Scotland Network' to win such an amendment. Colin Howden of TRANSform Scotland said: "We congratulate the Executive for accepting arguments that local authorities should be given powers to set up Home Zones in their areas. Sarah Boyack has put some life back in the Bill by agreeing to this important measure. Home Zones have the potential to genuinely transform the use of road space in residential streets - giving space over to residents and providing for childrens' play in a safe environment." 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) "Home Zones" are low-speed traffic-calmed residential streets where the needs of pedestrians are prioritised. There are over 6500 Home Zones in the Netherlands and they are also common in Germany, Austria and Denmark. They are residential streets where cars must travel at little more than a walking pace, and give way to pedestrians and cyclists. Experience on the continent suggests that Home Zones have increased neighbourliness, reduced isolation among old people, reduced crime through passive supervision of the streets, and helped regenerate blighted inner city areas. Key features of Home Zones are: ¥ Change in priority from cars to pedestrians ¥ Very low traffic speeds Ð 10mph or less ¥ Physical measures to reinforce change of status ¥ Support of local residents END OF NEWS RELEASE |