20 September 2012
Cycle investment increase a drop in the ocean
Scottish Budget fails sustainable transport:
Cycle investment increase a drop in the ocean; buses and ferries face further budget cuts
Transform Scotland [1] today (Thursday 20) criticised the almost complete lack of progress in today's Scottish Budget in investing in sustainable transport.
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"John Swinney's extra £6 million for cycling is a drop in the ocean compared to the level of investment needed for the Government to meet its own cycle targets. The Government has committed to getting 10% of all trips on bike by 2020 but to continue with this level of investment would ensure that the Government will break its promise.
"The Cabinet Secretary cannot be allowed to claim that constraints on investment is the responsibility of the UK Government. The overall transport budget again goes up this year so it would be misleading for John Swinney to say that the lack of investment in sustainable transport is not his responsibility. [2]
"The budget for road-building again goes up, [3] while he has announced cuts in bus and ferry investment in real terms. [4] This Budget locks in the severe cuts to bus investment announced last year when the Bus Service Operators Grant was slashed. If the Government was serious about getting people out of their cars and hitting their climate targets we'd be seeing significant increases in investment in public transport not cuts.
"Finally, the level of investment in getting freight off the roads and on to rail also remains at a pittance, with only £1.1m being invested in rail freight."
Colin Howden concluded:
"There is some welcome news in the Budget. There is increased investment in railways, and it is good to see a firm commitment made to funding for improved Sleeper services while it is also encouraging that there is continued reference to progressing the Borders Railway project. It is long overdue for the Government to sign the contracts to get work going on this important scheme and it is vital that this is now given the go-ahead as soon as possible."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] 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/members.aspx> for details.
[2] The overall transport budget increases from £1,884.2m in 2012-13 to £1,952.9m in 2013-14 in real terms. [Table 9.02, first six rows.]
[3] From £655.4m to £673.6m.
[4] In real terms, bus investment falls by 2.5% (from £248.6m to £242.5m) while
ferry investment falls slightly (from £107.1m to £106.5m).
END OF NEWS RELEASE