Scrapping of super-highway a welcomed step towards sustainable transport

The scrapping of plans to turn a section of the A494 at Queensferry in Flintshire into a seven lane highway has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The environment group congratulated the efforts of the local campaigners, and hopes that the Welsh Assembly Government's decision marks a new era of sustainable transport policy for Wales.

Neil Crumpton, Friends of the Earth Cymru Transport Campaigner, said:

"We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government's decision to scrap this controversial road scheme. Well done to the local community group who campaigned so hard for alternative solutions which would avoid the damaging effects of traffic growth on the local and global environment.

"If we're to face the enormous threat of climate change then we have to tackle the rising emissions from our transport sector [1]. This can't be done by building more roads, which will only ever create more traffic.

"Now let's see the Assembly Government drop plans for the Gwent Levels motorway, and make a major switch in transport expenditure from roads to public transport."

Notes

1. Carbon dioxide emissions from road transport currently account for over a fifth of total UK emissions. Emissions from road transport are forecast to rise by a further 18 per cent between 2005 and 2020, when they will represent over 26 per cent of total UK emissions.
   www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/download/xls/gatb05.xls