NEWS RELEASE - Thursday 11th October 2001

Scottish Executive promotes new elevated motorway as it comes under attack on environment policies

TRANSform Scotland today criticised the Scottish Executive for its award of contracts for building another elevated motorway across Glasgow (1). This comes on the day that WWF Scotland's 'Reality Check' report has revealed a "crisis of confidence" in the Executive's efforts on sustainable development (2) and its efforts on improving travel choices described as being "overwhelmed by the massive expansion of the road programme" (3).

Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said:

"We have little confidence in the Scottish Executive's ability to deliver sustainable and socially inclusive transport. The Scottish Executive tells people to use public transport then turns round and throws yet more money at road-building. In the last two years alone the Scottish Executive has promised over £480 million for new roads yet has failed to deliver even a single mile of new railway in Scotland" (4).

"At a time when public transport is meant to be receiving a massive financial investment, the only new railway project due to open in Scotland this year is a funicular railway bulldozed into the prospective Cairngorms National Park."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

(1) The Scottish Executive has today awarded contracts for "design and project management" to Glasgow City Council for the proposed M74 Northern Extension. See Scottish Executive press release issued 11/10/01 - available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2001/10/SE4147.aspx

(2) WWF Scotland press release issued 11/10/01 - available at http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/scotland/n_0000000448.asp

(3) See WWF Scotland report 'Reality Check: A Review of Scottish Executive activity on sustainable development' - see http://www.wwf.org.uk/core/about/scotland.asp

(4) Since November 1999, the Scottish Executive has given the go-ahead to at least £482.6 million of new road-building projects:
(a) M77 Fenwick-Malletsheugh - £60 million;
(b) A1 Haddington-Dunbar - £40 million;
(c) A78 Bypass of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston - £33.1 million;
(d) A830 Arisaig - Kinsadel - £10.8 million;
(e) A96 Fochabers - Mosstodloch - £17.3 million;
(f) M74 Northern Extension - £250 million;
(g) A1 road-widening projects south of Dunbar - £11.4 million;
(h) second A876 Kincardine Bridge - £60 million.

By contrast, the annual amount attributed to the Public Transport Fund - which pays for all public transport, walking, and cycling improvements across Scotland - is £50 million.

(5) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 66 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