Home > Press releases > 1998
02 Jun 1998
The £700 million additional subsidy is over £10 million for every mile of rail link built and £116 for everyone who used the EuroStar last year. It is more than eight times the money invested this year in local authority traffic reduction. It is more than four times the cost of the Midland Metro and more than five times the cost of the Manchester Metrolink extension[2]. £700 million would be enough to build bus priority networks in every city in the UK.
Mr Prescott must ensure that, unlike Old Mother Hubbard, his cupboard is not bare when decisions have to be made on grants for local traffic reduction and new tramways.
Roger Higman, Senior Transport Campaigner at, Friends of the Earth said:
“Friends of the Earth wants to see the Channel Tunnel Rail Link built but investing in bus lanes, bike routes and new tramways are far more cost-effective ways of cutting car use and congestion. Mr Prescott must not end up like Old Mother Hubbard, with nothing to offer these other priority projects because he has blown the £700 million on the Chunnel Link.”
[1] Dick Murray “£5.4 billion Chunnel link deal is sealed” Evening Standard 2 June, 1998
[2] This year, the Government allocated just £85 million for low cost traffic reduction packages of bus lanes and bike routes, despite evidence that these provide the best value for money in cutting congestion.This autumn, Mr Prescott will have to decide whether to increase funds for these packages as well as whether to pay for the Midlands Metro (£150 million) and Manchester Metrolink extension to Oldham and Rochdale (£137 million).
Contact details:
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