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Joint Action against the M74 (JAM74) MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 24th March 2005 Joint Action against the M74 (JAM74) [1] have today condemned
the Scottish Executive's decision to go ahead with the proposed M74 northern
extension [2] despite the recommendation of the Public Local Inquiry that
the road not be built. The M74 Northern Extension, Britain's largest road
scheme, could top £1 billion in cost [3]. Will Jess, Chair of JAM74, said: "JAM74 is very disappointed by this announcement but
sadly not surprised. It shows up the Public Inquiry for the elaborate
sham it was. The people of Glasgow have never been presented with alternatives
to this monster motorway. "The project is an outrageous waste of money, £1
billion could be much better spend improving public transport, air quality
and health in Glasgow. "The M74 will devastate the environment of already
disadvantaged communities in southern Glasgow to benefit the Executive's
pals in the construction industry and commuters from outside the city
for nothing the Executive's own figures show Glasgow's roads will be MORE
congested after construction. "The Executive and the City Council have condemned
Glaswegians to a legacy of air pollution and chromium contamination. "JAM74 is not going away, hundreds of objectors to this road have signed our 'beat the bulldozer' pledges and we will challenge this decision in the courts." ENDS Notes to Editors: [1] JAM74 JAM74 is a coalition of community, environmental and sustainable
transport groups. Member organisations of JAM74 include Residents Against
the M74, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Scottish Association for Public
Transport, the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Socialist Party &
TRANSform Scotland.[2] The M74 Northern Extension Since 1999, the Scottish Executive has put in place a £1
billion road-building programme - despite its much-trumpeted commitments
to sustainable transport and environmental justice. The most damaging of the Executive's roads projects is
Glasgow’s M74, the largest urban motorway project in Britain, and
perhaps in the whole of Europe. The project, five miles of elevated multi-lane
motorway slicing through south Glasgow, is a remnant of 1960s-style roads
planning. There has never been an independent analysis of alternatives
to the M74 despite its vast price tag and major environmental and social
impacts.[3] M74 cost rises to £1 billion The M74 has quadrupled in price over the course of one
year: this time last year, the M74 was priced at £245 million. In March 2003, in a note in an Executive press release,
it emerged that the project would cost not £245 million, but between
£375 million and £500 million. The Herald (15/1/04) reported that the M74 may cost over £1 billion - http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/8048-print.shtml [4] M74 Public Local Inquiry The PLI into the M74 began on 1st December 2003 and will
run on to the start of March 2004. JAM74, alongside Friends of the Earth
Scotland, are the main objectors to the project at the Inquiry. JAM74 have previously challenged the First Minister Jack
McConnell over his "biased" remarks made in advance of the start
of the Inquiry - http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/news/press/pr20031203.html JAM74 have previously raised the complaint that the planning
process for the M74 is inherently flawed in as much as the developer,
the planning authority and the planning inquiry process are all led by
the Scottish Executive. A final Ministerial decision on the project will
also be taken by the Scottish Executive. JAM74 regards this process as
potentially being in conflict with Article 6 of the European Convention
on Human Rights (ECHR).[5] JAM74's objection to the M74 In brief, JAM74 are objecting to the M74 for the following
reasons:
END OF PRESS RELEASE
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