23 May 2012
May 2012 newsletter
Invite to Members' Session, Friday 1 JuneOur third Members’ Session of the year will be held at the end of next week -- and it’d be good to see you all there.
Details are available on our website.
Presenting at the seminar will be Sandra Wechner, who is hard at work on completing our first ‘Annual Sustainable Transport Report’. Sandra is over halfway through an internship with us, preparing a set-piece report on sustainable transport which we intend to launch in the autumn.
At the seminar, members will have the opportunity to express their views on the first draft of the report. Also, along with the usual cake, we will be offering a mystery prize to whoever can think of the best title for the report.
Other projectsWe are also near completion of the first phase of the 'Public Sector Travel Survey' research project. The project reviews to what extent Scottish Public Bodies are taking action to meet their commitments under the Climate Change Act. The survey was started by Minna Vertainen and has been concluded by Jetta Doran and Sophie van der Ham.
Meanwhile, Jolin Warren and Ivan Zovko are in the final stages of completing their report into Transport Appraisal. This offers recommendations for improving the way in which government can make more sustainable decisions about transport investment.
We're also about to commence work on two further projects: one on railways, and another on cycling. We'll tell you the details once the project plans are a bit more developed.
Other Transform Scotland newsThe Transform Scotland Trust has been dissolved, after seven years of operation. The Trust was established in 2005 to carry out research and educate the public about transport’s impact on the economy, environment and society as a whole. The Trust has had a number of key achievements, and more information about this can be found at
http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/trust.aspx.
We briefed on parliamentary debates on
rail,
buses, and
cycling. We were also rather pleased to see that many MSPs agreed with us that the government’s claims on bus investment were “complete rubbish”!
We have also been busy responding to a number of consultations, including the DfT’s
consultation on charging for heavy goods vehicles, the Scottish Government's
plans for ferries, and on the
ScotRail franchise.
We've been working up our plans for engaging in the next Scottish Budget, and have been working closely with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland on feeding into the new climate change delivery plans (“RPP2”). We also continue to play an active role in the 2020 Climate Group.
After three years as Treasurer, our director Colin Howden has now stepped down from the Board of the European Federation for Transport and Environment (
T&E). He recently returned from Brussels with eight litres of alcohol in tow, including a spectacular array of Belgian ales provided as a leaving present.
We're pleased at the local election victories of Ralph Barker, a former Transform Scotland board member, in South Lanarkshire; and Ian Baxter, a long-standing Transform Scotland supporter, in Midlothian. It was however disappointing to see the loss of Gordon Mackenzie from Edinburgh council; Gordon can at least be proud of his record in implementing 20mph zones across a swathe of the city, putting in place a strong cross-party commitment to cycle investment, and ensuring that the Edinburgh tram scheme will at least reach St Andrew Square.
Finally, want to become a Transform Scotland supporter? There is a new function on our website which allows individuals to become supporters. Click
here to find out more.
Members' newsOn 28 April, Edinburgh saw a huge turnout for the
Pedal on Parliament demo. Over 3,000 people took part in the bike ride from the Meadows to Parliament, and over 10,000 people took part in a sister event in London. The event was a massive success, and we were very happy to be a part of it.
Road Sense are far from giving up their fight on the Aberdeen western bypass. They are now taking the government to the UK Supreme Court, which reflects well on their tenacity. Given that the Union Terrace Gardens proposal looks likely to be shelved, surely it's now time for Aberdeen's new administration to similarly review the plans for the Aberdeen western bypass.
The 5th National Active Travel conference will take place on 29 May in the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow. Our chair John Pinkard will be speaking in the panel debate at the conference. Click
here for more information.
As part of the Responsible Parking Alliance, Living Streets are encouraging people to respond to Joe FitzPatrick MSP’s consultation on his
Proposed Responsible Parking Bill. Responses need to be in by 30 June.
We have two new members. The
Central Scotland Green Network and
b-spokes have both joined recently. CSGN develop green networks in Central Scotland, while b-spokes run pedicabs which deliver eco-friendly promotions on their rickshaws.
CSGN are hosting their
second annual Forum on June 12th. The forum will look at initiatives for green infrastructure, drawing inspiration from projects in London, New York and closer to home, and includes presentations from some great speakers.
See our '
Events' and '
Take Action Online' pages for more information on things you could attend and things you could do to press for sustainable transport.
Please let us know what you'd like in the next issueThis newsletter has been put together by Zoë Blah. Please feel free to email me with your suggestions for content for next month's newsletter.
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Transform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport
5 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR, Scotland
t: +44 (0)131 243 2690
e: <info@transformscotland.org.uk>
w: <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>
FB: <http://www.facebook.com/transformscotland>
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Transform Scotland Limited is a registered Scottish charity (SC041516)
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