17 October 2012
Aberdeen bypass appeal
Scottish Ministers are fooling themselves if they think a western bypass will cure traffic problems in Aberdeen
Transform Scotland has today (Wednesday 17th) expressed its dismay at the rejection by the UK Supreme Court of the appeal by Road Sense against the proposed Aberdeen western bypass.
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland said:
"The Scottish Ministers are fooling themselves if they think a western bypass will cure traffic problems in Aberdeen. Everyone knows that the real problem is car commuting into the city, especially during the morning rush hour -- something that an orbital road will do nothing to address. The best way that Aberdeen's traffic problems could be tackled would be to deliver commuter rail routes into the city. The only thing that a bypass will deliver is the devastation of the city's green belt through car-dependent commuter sprawl and out-of-town retail tin sheds.
"The Scottish Ministers' determination to press on with this damaging project also further undermines their already miserable record at taking action to reduce climate emissions from the transport sector.
"What we still don't know is how much the project will cost. No-one believes that the £395m price-tag, a figure which dates from 2005, is a realistic estimate for this project. Given the cuts to public sector jobs and services carried out in the North East over recent years, we can be sure that this project will force Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils to make further cuts to local services in order to meet their financial commitments towards the already excessive cost of the road."
Regarding the Supreme Court's judgement, Colin Howden said:
"It must be small comfort to William Walton that Lord Hope concluded that he had a right to challenge this project. Walton was right to challenge the project as information was withheld from the beginning, due process was not followed in planning and promoting the project, and the opinions of 10,000 objectors were summarily ignored by the Scottish Government at a sham Public Local Inquiry."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/our-members.aspx> for details.
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