09 Dec 2002
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is expected to announce £2
billion of road-building and widening schemes tomorrow (Tuesday).
Friends of the Earths Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
If Mr Darling gives the go-ahead to £2 billion of road building this week it will show that New Labour has conceded defeat on getting people out of their cars and abandoned any attempt at having a sustainable transport policy.
``Building and widening roads as a solution to transport problems has failed in the past and there's no reason to think it will work now. It will just buy drivers a few years' respite before the roads fill up again, and we're back to square one. If Mr Darling wants to solve Britain's transport crisis, he should spend the £2 billion on giving people better alternatives to using their cars.
When he was appointed as Transport Secretary, Mr Darling said that he didnt want to pour concrete over Britain. This may now be seen as the latest in the long line of hollow promises that have made up Labours transport policy
A full briefing on the decisions that Alistair Darling is expected to
announce this week is available on request.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team