NEWS RELEASE - Friday 11th May 2001

Tory transport policy an insult to Scottish public transport users

TRANSform Scotland, Scotland's campaign for sustainable transport (1), today attacked the Scottish Tories' manifesto commitments on transport as an insult to Scottish public transport users. The manifesto makes specific commitment to a long list of new road schemes yet fails to mention even a single public transport project.

Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said:

"The 35% of Scottish households that have no access to a car have been utterly ignored by this Tory transport policy. Voters who cares about the environment and improved public transport will treat the Tories' fuel tax bribe with the contempt it deserves."

"The Tories have completely ignored the needs of Scotland's public transport users. Their manifesto makes specific commitment to £700 million of new road building yet fails to mention a single public transport project. With all transport investment squandered on new roads, there is no chance that public transport in Scotland could be improved. The Borders would still be deprived of its rail link while Scotland's cities would have no chance of seeing modern tram systems implemented."

"The challenge is now to see whether any of the other political parties can show more vision and commit to delivering the public transport improvements that the public is demanding."

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 Strategic Roads Review of November 1999 listed the cost of the Tory roads programme as follows: A80/M80 (£130-153million), A8/M8 (£100-108 million), A77/M77 (£60 million), Kincardine Bridge (£60 million), A96 Keith Bypass (£10.5 million), A8000 (£15 million). The M74 Northern Extension is now estimated at over £240 million while an Aberdeen western bypass is put at over £80 million. Totalling these figures gives a range of £695.5 - 726.5 million.