Archived press release

Government to give go ahead to 2 billion road-building programme?

9 December 2002

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is expected to announce £2 billion of road-building and widening schemes tomorrow (Tuesday).

Friends of the Earth’s 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 didn’t 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 Labour’s transport policy”

A full briefing on the decisions that Alistair Darling is expected to announce this week is available on request.

If you are a journalist seeking press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Government to give go ahead to 2 billion road-building programme?

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