NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday 4th July 2006

Ditching of M80 Kelvin Valley motorway welcomed

TRANSform Scotland [1] today (Tuesday 4th July) welcomed the Scottish Executive's decision to finally ditch proposals for an M80 motorway through the Kelvin Valley. The decision follows the Executive's decision to proceed with an on-line upgrade of the A80 to motorway grade. [2]

TRANSform Scotland however remain critical of the slow progress on promised public transport and traffic management improvements along the same transport corridor.

Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland said:

"The decision to finally ditch the destructive M80 Kelvin Valley proposals is long overdue. We welcome the decision to upgrade the existing road as part of the package of transport improvements promised by the Scottish Executive in January 2003. [3]

"The decision to proceed with the on-line upgrade of the A80 to motorway status is the correct one. The impacts of bulldozing a motorway through the Kelvin Valley were unacceptable when they were first proposed and would be even more fiercely resisted nowadays.

"There is however further work to be done on delivering bus and rail improvements for the area. Three years ago, the Scottish Ministers promised improved bus services, rail electrification and more park and ride sites. There has also been no progress in delivering demand management measures, such as road pricing, ramp metering or high-occupancy vehicle lanes to stop congestion re-appearing on the new road.

"There has so far been little progress in delivering these schemes, and we will be watching to see what action the Executive is now prepared to take to ensure that these more sustainable parts of the promised package are finally delivered."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

[1] 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] The Kelvin Valley proposal was strongly resisted in the 1990s by a locally-based coalition named 'CARE80 - Campaign for Retaining and Enhancing the A80'

[3] See 'Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies' (CSTCS) Ministerial decision report, January 2003 - <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/01/16198/16642>. TRANSform Scotland was represented on the Steering Group of the CSTCS.

[4] TRANSform Scotland remains firmly opposed to the proposed M74 Northern Extension and other road projects. TRANSform Scotland regards the process followed by the Scottish Executive in the case of the A8 to be good practice in as much as a thorough multi-modal study (the CSTCS) was carried out. No such study was carried out in the case of the proposed M74 Northern Extension.

END OF NEWS RELEASE