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NEWS RELEASE Monday 7th February 2005 Transport Edinburgh referendum: Environmental groups TRANSform Scotland
[1] and Friends of the Earth Scotland [2] today made plain their views
about the parties campaigning for a 'no' vote in the Transport Edinburgh
referendum. David Spaven, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, said: "It is little surprise to see the Tories and
the Nationalists espousing their pro-car and anti-environment policies
but we are shocked to see the Lib Dems and the Socialists opposing improvements
to public transport and the environnment. "The kneejerk reaction of the SSP is particularly
shameful. Their decision to take sides with the Tories rips to shreds
any environmental pretensions they may have had. The city's low income
households will disproportionately benefit from the council's proposals
yet the SSP have instead decided to side with those campaigning against
investment in public transport. [1] "Until now, we have had a productive working
relationship with the SSP, campaigning side by side with them against
Glasgow's proposed M74 motorway. We are now unsure whether we are able
to work with the SSP in the future." Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the
Earth Scotland, said: "The Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh campaigning against a yes vote are besmirching the national party's much vaunted green credentials for the sake of short term political opportunism. It's a shame that a rogue element within the city have led the campaign against a scheme that many of their own members support and that would deliver so many benefits for Edinburgh residents." ENDS Notes to Editors: [1] http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk [2] http://www.transformscotland.org.uk [3] some facts about transport and social justice
in Edinburgh: * Low income households make up a large proportion
of the 42% of Edinburgh households that don't have access to a car. (Scottish
Household Survey, 2000) * 95% of Scottish households in the top income quartile
have access to a car, while only 43% of those in the bottom quartile do.
(Social Attitudes Survey, 2002). * People on low incomes rely disproportionately on
bus use (National Travel Survey 2002/03). The city's investment package
is principally aimed at improving bus services. * Children in the poorest families "are over
4 times more likely to be killed as pedestrians than their counterparts
in the highest socio-economic group" (Scottish Executive: 2000).
The city's proposals will deliver 20mph zones and investment in traffic
calming, as well as less traffic on the roads. * "Overall we have to conclude that unless revenues fall far short of reasonable expectations, the transport improvements achievable by congestion charging would tend to reduce rather than increase problems of social exclusion." (Inquiry report para. 4.148) END OF PRESS RELEASE |
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