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Government cuts bus funding and increases rail fares
20 October 2010
Responding to Chancellor George Osborne's announcement in Parliament today that the Government will cut bus subsidies and raise the cap on rail fares, Friends of the Earth's transport campaigner Richard Dyer said:
"Cutting bus funding is a huge mistake - we should be making it easier for people to use public transport instead of pushing up fares and reducing services.
"Making rail travel more expensive will make driving and flying more financially attractive, with serious consequences for the environment, while widening the M62 and M25 will increase traffic and emissions.
"Increasing fares and building roads will do nothing to achieve the Government's aim of cutting carbon from transport - it should be investing in public transport and schemes to encourage greener travel instead."
And responding to reports today that London Mayor Boris Johnson will scrap the western extension of the congestion charge zone today, Friends of the Earth's London campaigner Jenny Bates added:
"Scrapping the western extension to the congestion zone is bad news for Londoners and the environment, and won't help the Mayor's plans to make the capital the world's greenest city.
"Transport for London says the scheme successfully reduced traffic levels and brought in funding, and that abolishing it will increase climate changing emissions and air pollution.
"The Mayor says he wants to cut carbon emissions by nearly two thirds and bring air quality up to legal standard, but his alternative proposals are too weak and won't keep us on track."
ENDS
Notes to editor
- See more information on Mayor Johnson's anticipated announcement.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Oct 2010
