Archived press release

Green Groups challenge Government over Traffic Growth - Demonstration Planned to Surround the DOT

13 April 1996

On Saturday afternoon, 13 April, 1996, supporters of Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and the Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Party will surround the Department of Transport to demand Government support for the Road Traffic Reduction Bill [1].

Supporters from all over the country are expected to converge at the Department of Transport's offices in Westminster following revelations that the Government is likely to reject the use of targets to control spiralling traffic growth [2].

Charles Secrett, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth said:

"The Government's failure to control traffic growth has led to increased congestion, health-threatening air quality episodes and massive damage to nationally important wildlife sites. The Road Traffic Reduction Bill will force Ministers to set targets for traffic reduction. It will make them plan transport in ways that meet economic, social and environmental goals."

David Taylor, Principal Spokesperson of the Green Party said:

"The campaign for the Road Traffic Reduction Bill attacks the root cause of the Government's failure to plan transport in an integrated way. We aim to take advantage of the deep rooted public concern over air pollution and road-building to build an alliance that will force the Bill through Parliament."

Cynog Dafis MP, promoter of the Bill said:

"Parliament must recognise that the debate over transport transcends party-political ideologies. Real change, as promoted through the Road Traffic Reduction Bill, will require the support of MPs from all sides."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The "Surround the DoT" action will convene at at 2:00 pm and arrive for a photocall outside the Department of Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street at 3:00 pm.

The protest is part of a national campaign by Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and the Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Party to build support for the Road Traffic Reduction Bill.

If passed, the Bill would:

require the Secretary of State for Transport to draw up a "National Road Traffic Reduction Plan" to achieve a 5% reduction in road traffic miles by 2005, and 10% by 2010. ensure the Plan is reported to and debated by Parliament annually. require Local Authorities to draw up local Road traffic Reduction Plans authorising measures they consider appropriate to curtail traffic in their area enable parish and town councils to draw up road traffic reduction plans if they so choose.

On 20 March, 1996, Cynog Dafis MP introduced the Road Traffic Reduction Bill into Parliament under the ten minute rule. However due to shortage of time it is unlikely that the Bill will be passed during this parliamentary session. Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and the Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Party are therefore looking for an MP to introduce it as a Private Members Bill later this year.

[2] Later this month the Government is expected to announce its response to the eighteenth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution which made sweeping recommendations for changes to transport policy in November 1994. The Independent (2 April, 1996) suggests that Ministers have already ruled out setting targets to control traffic growth, as envisaged by the Road Traffic Reduction Bill.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust