3 September 2009
Forth Crossing Bill disastrous for sustainable transport
Responding to the inclusion of a 'Forth Crossing Bill' in the Scottish Government's legislative programme, Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"The Scottish Government's legislative programme is a disaster for sustainable transport. If the Government chooses to pursue a multi-billion pound Second Forth Road Bridge, it will starve the rest of the country of investment that should be being used to deliver a sustainable transport system.
"It will be of little use having a so-called "world-leading" climate change bill if the Government then chooses to prioritise investment on a scheme which will further increase car dependence. The Government's own research, published only last week, showed the range of sustainable investments that are required if we have any hope of meeting climate targets. But most of these projects remain in their infancy while money is lavished on a traffic-generating road-building programme.
"The existing Forth Road Bridge can and should be repaired. Politicians and business groups from around the country need to think long and hard as to whether they are prepared to see their areas deprived of investment because of this outrageous vanity project."