Archived press release

Manchester could be national leader on fast clean and efficient transport systems, say major UK charities

24 November 2008

Greater Manchester could become a national leader in developing a state of the art transport system if residents vote 'yes' in a referendum that starts today, says a coalition of health, environmental and transport organisations.

Friends of the Earth, the Campaign for Better Transport, Greenpeace and Asthma UK say that the £3 billion package of measures will tackle air pollution, climate change and congestion, and make the city a better place to live, work and do business.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
"A fast, clean and efficient transport system would make Greater Manchester a world leader - providing real alternatives to car use will cut congestion and climate-changing emissions. Residents should vote 'yes' for a 21st century transport system to be proud of."

Campaign for Better Transport's Executive Director Stephen Joseph said:

"Manchester has the chance to leapfrog other UK cities by creating a transport system that works for everyone. Far from being bad for business, it will be good. The national and international evidence is that the proposals will attract investment into the city and its surrounding areas."

Greenpeace's Senior Transport Campaigner Anita Goldsmith said:

"Reducing traffic congestion is good news for Manchester's economic competitiveness as well as an important step in the fight against climate change. These proposals will make Manchester a cleaner, greener and more efficient city, as well as allowing more people to take public transport than ever before."

Asthma UK's Assistant Director of Policy and Public Affairs Mikis Euripides said:

"Traffic pollution has been shown to increase asthma symptoms by up to 50% and two thirds of people with asthma tell us that traffic fumes make their asthma worse, so we're urging people in Manchester to protect their health by backing the new transport measures."

The proposed measures will tackle a number of problems:

• Congestion: Greater Manchester is the most congested city in the UK outside London, and the proposals would reduce traffic levels by up to 15 per cent.
• Climate change: traffic is responsible for over a fifth of UK emissions of carbon dioxide, the main climate change gas. The proposals will help cut emissions by giving Manchester a top-class public transport system and improving facilities for cycling and walking.
• Asthma: The North-West has the highest emergency admissions in the UK and parts of Greater Manchester have some of the highest emergency admissions for children in England. For example Oldham has admissions more than twice the national average and Manchester has admissions 68 per cent above the national average.
• Other health problems: The measures could save up to 100 lives a year through better air quality and bringing about higher levels of physical activity.
• Social exclusion: the measures will improve access to services and jobs for those without a car - a third of households across Manchester and up to 60 per cent in the most deprived areas.

The groups support the use of peak-time congestion charging as part of a package of measures, with revenues used to secure investment in:

• Improved public transport: including extensions to the Metrolink tram system; new railway stations and bus interchanges; extra buses, trams and train carriages; bus lanes and bus priority corridors; and integrated public transport ticketing.
• Better facilities for cycling and walking: including more safe routes to schools; more cycle lanes; making streets more attractive places to walk and the introduction of low cost short-term cycle hire in two urban centres.
• A package of measures including travel plans and better travel information: known as 'Smarter Choices' and targeted at different levels (residential, businesses, hospital staff etc) to encourage people to change how they travel.

Notes

A full briefing on the coalition is available from marie.reynolds@foe.co.uk

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust