19 March 2009
Disappointment at proposed Alexander Dennis job cuts
Letter as submitted to The Herald:
Dear Sir
It is deeply disappointing to read of the potential job cuts at Alexander Dennis Ltd ('Leading coach makers may have to cut 150 jobs', 17th March). At at time when there is widespread agreement that we need to be creating and supporting green technology, it is hard to think of a more worthy example than Britain's largest bus manufacturer.
The UK government has already handed out billions of pounds to the car industry which in many ways lies at the heart of our current environmental problems. Emissions from cars are the fastest growing source of climate change gases and this will not change until we develop a culture which is far less dependent on the private car.
As well as the threat of climate change, we need to reduce our dependence on oil for reasons of national security. This will require many major changes to the whole of society, not just the transport sector. We need alternative and high quality public transport options and buses are and will remain a key part of this solution. One important first step would be the establishment in Scotland of a centre of excellence in sustainable automotive technology for the public transport sector.
Scotland no longer makes cars - the Hillman Imp is not going to make a comeback! But we do have Britain’s largest bus manufacturer in Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis. Scotland also features two of the world’s largest public transport operators - FirstGroup and Stagecoach.
We want Scotland build on this experience and take the lead in developing sustainable automotive technology for all forms of public transport: buses, trams, trains and ferries. We need to see the development and commercialisation of all forms of sustainable transport technologies that have a chance of helping us reduce the transport sector’s oil dependence: for example, hybrid engines, electric vehicles and hydrogen technology.
It seems to us that Alexander Dennis is ideally placed to play a leading role in these essential developments and is a far more worthy recipient of government aid than the car industry.
Yours faithfully
Paul Tetlaw
Chair, Transform Scotland