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NEWS RELEASE
Comment on Edinburgh trams decision: TRANSform Scotland today criticised the City of Edinburgh
Council's decision to ditch progress on the northern loop section of Edinburgh
Tram Line 1, and called on the proposed Edinburgh Airport Rail Link to
be scrapped instead. [1] [2] [3] David Spaven, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, said: "The City Council has ditched the wrong scheme.
They should instead have taken the decision to scrap the costly and unnecessary
Edinburgh Airport Rail Link. "We are now left with proposals for two new
rail lines to Edinburgh Airport, and no new public transport for Edinburgh
Waterfront. Unless and until the Scottish Executive comes forward with
funding for the remainder of Tram Line 1, we are calling upon the City
Council to withhold all new planning consents for development at the Waterfront. "When seen alongside Gordon Brown's meddling
in proposals for a road user charge on the Forth Road Bridge, and the
Parliament's support for subsidising the profits of airline companies,
this is a disastrous day for transport and the environment in Scotland.
Political parties retain a charade of concern for the environment whilst
doing their very best to trash it." [4] [5] ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS: [1] TRANSform Scotland TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport
alliance, campaigning for a more sustainable and more socially-just transport
system. Our membership includes bus, rail and shipping operators, local
authorities, national environment and conservation groups, consultancies
and local transport campaigns. [2] Edinburgh trams TRANSform Scotland are in favour of the proposals
for Tram Line 1 and Tram Line 2 and have given written and oral evidence
to the Parliamentary Bill Committees in support of the proposals: [3] Edinburgh Airport Rail Link TRANSform Scotland remains unconvinced at the high
priority given to the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link as we judge the current
proposal as excessively expensive and poor value in the context of other,
more pressing, requirements for investment in the Scottish rail network.
Any lengthening of journey times on the flagship Edinburgh-Glasgow rail
line - as seems likely - would be an unacceptable consequence of the EARL
project. Our response to the 2004 consultation on the proposals is available
at: [4] Forth Road Bridge road user charge TRANSform Scotland support FETA's proposal for a
road user charge scheme on the Forth Road Bridge. [5] Air Route Development Fund Air transport is the most environmentally-damaging
mode of transport. In today's Parliamentary debate on the air Route Development
Fund, all parties - except the Greens - came out in favour of subsidising
airlines. For more information see:
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