Better Transport

The face of the South East of England could change forever within 50 years if opportunities to lessen the impacts of climate change are not taken now, according to a booklet released today [1].

Buckled rail lines, parched golf courses, disappearing wildlife and freak weather delivering alternating flood and drought could be part of a dramatically changed way of life illustrated in the booklet which delivers a stark but simple message:  If you love England, act now to save what makes it special.

The method [1] by which the government decides whether to give transport projects the go-ahead is bad for the environment and bad for the motorist, research published today has shown [2]. The research was published by two of the country’s leading environmental organisations, Green Alliance and Campaign for Better Transport [3].

Campaign for Better Transport applauds the new emissions-related congestion charges announced today. London’s reputation as a pioneer of progressive transport will be further enhanced by the introduction of a congestion charge related to a vehicle’s climate change emissions. Under the new scheme cars which use the most fuel, including many 4x4s, will have to pay £25 a day to drive in central London and will not be eligible for a resident’s discount as they are at present.

Campaign for Better Transport [1] today urged the Chancellor not to back down to hauliers and to stick with its planned 2p fuel duty increase for April [2].   

Jason Torrance, the group’s campaigns director, said:
“With the threat of climate change, hauliers should be asking the Chancellor for bigger incentives to go green and make their fleets more fuel efficient, rather than asking for cheaper motoring.  The 2p increase is the first in years and is desperately needed to prevent the real cost of motoring from going down further.”