9 February 2011
The M74 won't work
Responding to today's publication by Glasgow Airport plc of its
consultation on its Master Plan, Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland said:
"Five years ago, BAA told us that they needed second runways at both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. Now they tell us they won't need one at Glasgow until at least 2040, and not for the foreseeable future at Edinburgh. With Scotland having a legal requirement to cut climate emissions by 80% by 2050, there is no scope for airport expansion in Scotland. We fully expect in another five years time that BAA will finally have got the message that the days of uncontrolled airport expansion are at an end.""Glasgow Airport were a key player in campaigning for the urban M74 to be bulldozed through the Southside of Glasgow. We note that they are now saying that the M74 will at best have only a short-term impact on Glasgow's traffic levels. We are glad to see that BAA now – albeit somewhat belatedly! – accept the arguments presented by Joint Action against the M74 at the Public Inquiry into this monstrous project."