Nov 5 2004
The Government must not give in to pressure from the motoring lobby to expand Britain's road network, Friends of the Earth said today. The call coincides with comments today from the RAC Foundation calling for more money to be spent on roads.
Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
"Expanding Britain's road network would bring more traffic, congestion and pollution, and lead to an increase in the emissions that cause climate change, the biggest environmental threat the planet faces. The Government should be trying to reduce traffic levels and spend more money on alternatives to the car, rather than covering our countryside in yet more tarmac."
"The public doesn't want more money spent on roads. A recent survey showed that the general public thinks that investment in public transport should be a higher priority for the Government than spending more money building bypasses and widening motorways".
A survey for Friends of the Earth, published in May this year found that three quarters of the public said the Government should cut traffic levels on Britain's roads and seven out of ten want more spending on public transport.
AA/RAC members say "too much traffic"
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