NEWS RELEASE

For immediate use: Thursday 24th March 2005

M74 decision a "scandal"

Responding to today's announcement by the Scottish Executive that it plans to build the £500 million M74 Northern Extension, despite the recommendation that the road not be built, TRANSform Scotland has described the Executive's decision as a "scandal".

David Spaven, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, said:

"The Executive's decision to press ahead with building the M74 despite the specific recommendation of the Inquiry Reporters that the road should not be built is a scandal. With this decision, the Executive demonstrates its contempt for the planning process. We will be exploring any legal avenues we can to challenge this outrageous decision.

"We said from day one that the M74 would be bad for the environment, bad for social justice, and would not solve Glasgow's traffic problems. The inquiry report agrees with us on all these points. From the statements made today by the Scottish Executive, it seems that they were at a different inquiry from the one that we attended."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

[1] JAM74

TRANSform Scotland is part of the JAM74 coalition that led the case against the M74 at the public inquiry held between December 2003 and March 2004. See http://www.jam74.org David Spaven gave evidence at the inquiry on behalf of JAM74.

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