Get Edinburgh Moving

NEWS RELEASE

Monday 17th January 2005

Ken Livingstone visit to Edinburgh:
'YES' SUPPORTERS OUTNUMBER 'NO' PROTESTORS TEN TO ONE

Pictures of Ken Livingstone & 'Yes' supporters available now at: http://www.getedinburghmoving.orgPro-congestion charging campaigners today turned up in force to welcome Mayor of London Ken Livingstone to the congestion charge conference being held today at the Carlton Hotel, North Bridge, Edinburgh.

Mark Sydenham, spokesperson for Get Edinburgh Moving, said:

"'Yes' supporters outnumbered 'No' protestors by ten to one. The 'No' campaigners could only muster a pathetic threesome while scores of supporters turned up. This shows that most people want to see action taken to reduce pollution and congestion in Edinburgh.

"It seems that it's only the Tories, a few rogue Lib Dems and the odd misguided retailer that have their head stuck in the sand on the Council's transport plans."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Get Edinburgh Moving is a coalition of transport, environment, student and community groups pressing for a 'yes' vote in February's referendum on transport.

During the next few weeks Get Edinburgh Moving campaigners will be taking to the streets to inform the public of the great number of benefits to be gained from a 'yes' vote. As well as distributing information materials the group has launched a website http://www.getedinburghmoving.org Get Edinburgh Moving is asking the public and the rest of Edinburgh's civic society to log-on and get involved in ensuring the council's sustainable proposals come to fruition.

Get Edinburgh Moving: the members to date are:
Campaign for Borders Rail
ctc Scotland
Capital Rail Action Group
Friends of the Earth Edinburgh
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Gorgie Park Close and Slateford Green Residents' Association
People and Planet
Scottish Association for Public Transport
Spokes
Sustrans
TRANSform Scotland
WWF Scotland

[2] For background information on the Transport Edinburgh proposals, see http://www.transport-edinburgh.org.uk/

[3] Some facts about congestion in Edinburgh.

Why action is required:
* Without action Edinburgh is likely to breach air quality standards in several city centre locations.
* Without action, traffic volumes in Edinburgh are expected to increase 30% by 2021.
* A third of small firms in Scotland claim that road congestion is seriously damaging their business.
* The transport sector accounts for 23% of climate changing carbon dioxide emissions.

Congestion charging would make a real difference to all who work and live in the city:

* Less traffic, less pollution and safer streets.
* All the money raised from the charge will be used to improve transport across South-East Scotland including: trams, buses, walking and cycling.
* Delivering environmental justice: The real winners will be the 42% of Edinburgh's households who have no access to a car.

END OF PRESS RELEASE