NEWS RELEASE - Friday 21st September 2001

UK finally pledges support for European Car Free Day - call for Scottish Executive to follow

TRANSform Scotland have welcomed the announcement made yesterday afternoon (Thursday) that the UK Government has pledged its support for European Car Free Day, held annually on September 22nd. Until now the UK had been the only EU Member State not to support European Car Free Day (1). TRANSform Scotland are now calling on the Scottish Executive to follow suit and have written to Transport Minister Sarah Boyack requesting that the Scottish Executive pledge its support.

The pledge (text below) was signed by Alan Whitehead MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. He has written to inform Sir Jeremy Beecham (Chairman of the Local Government Association) and to EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstršm. The letter to Sir Jeremy has been added to the DTLR website today, http://www.local-transport.dtlr.gov.uk/intown/index.htm

Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said:

"We welcome the UK Government's decision to finally sign the European Car Free Day pledge. Now every EU government has signed, plus many more from outside the EU. This means local authorities will have government support and encouragement for their efforts from now on, which hopefully will result in much wider participation levels across UK in 2002, when Car Free Day falls on a Sunday."

"Scottish local authorities have so far been spineless when it comes to European Car Free Day. If countries such as Portugal, Croatia and Greece can take part in Car Free Day, it is pretty miserable that not one single Scottish local authority has yet had the gumption to organise an event. We look forward to better efforts in 2002 but it vital that the Scottish Executive lends its support."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

(1) In 2000, 760 towns in 26 European countries participated in European Car Free Day. For 2001, the ministerial pledge in support of European Car Free Day has now been signed by all EU countries plus the following: Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia, Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Malta, Slovakia, Romania. 928 towns and cities are signed up to participating in ECFD across Europe and beyond on this Saturday, which includes GLA and ten London boroughs, plus nine other British towns and cities. None of these are in Scotland. For more information see www.eta.co.uk or www.22september.org or www.london.gov.uk/mayor/carfreeday/index.htm

(2) 'In town, without my car!" Pledge "Declaration of Ministers and high representatives of participating countries With regard to the citizens' growing concern of the negative effects of traffic on the quality of life in their towns and cities, we the undersigned:

„ welcome the European "In town, without my car!" Day initiative;

„ commit ourselves to promote and facilitate the organisation by local authorities of the annual campaign, each 22 September at least, on the basis of the Charter;

„ invite other countries and regions inside and outside Europe to join the initiative in order to enable as many citizens as possible to discover more sustainable means of transport and to enjoy a healthier and more friendly city."