Better Transport

On the eve of the opening of the Westfield shopping centre in Hammersmith and Fulham, Campaign for Better Transport [1] is surprised that the Council is appealing to Transport for London for help in reducing the congestion the shopping centre is expected to generate. The Council itself gave planning permission for the development over ten years ago and was warned at the time that it would make conditions even worse on already congested roads. 

Government plans in the Thames Gateway growth area outside of London are set to see almost three-quarters of transport expenditure directed to roads [1], putting plans for the growth area at risk of creating car-dependent developments where no one will want to live, according to a new report from Campaign for Better Transport [2].

On Monday 27 October, MPs are to debate an amendment to the Local Transport Bill which would require local authorities to ensure their transport policies reduce carbon emissions.

The amendment, Amendment 102, was tabled by Clive Betts MP for the report stage of the bill. The amendment can be found on the Parliament website.

Campaign for Better Transport supports the MP in putting forward this amendment; we are available for comment.

In response to news that the speed limit on the hard-shoulder running section of the M42 near Birmingham is to be increased to 60mph tomorrow (16 October), Campaign for Better Transport’s roads and climate campaigner Richard George said:

“These claims by the Highways Agency into the benefits of hard-shoulder running are incorrect and as muddled as the rest of their transport policy. The Government’s own evidence shows that hard-shoulder running at 60mph increases CO2 emissions.”

Notes to editors

Last night, Labour MP Clive Betts (Sheffield Attercliffe) tabled an amendment to the Local Transport Bill which would give local authorities a new duty to produce transport policies that reduce carbon emissions.[1]

Campaign for Better Transport [1] today joined with six unions and nine organisations [2] to condemn plans for airport expansion. The groups say that if the Government pushes ahead with expanding our airports, the UK will never be able to meet the new target of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050 [3] and play its part in fighting climate change.

Campaign for Better Transport is today asking the new transport secretary to reverse the previous secretary’s decision on who should deal with bus passenger complaints.

The Campaign for Better Transport today condemned the Government’s decision to approve the £85.4 million Weymouth relief road [1]. Granting the approval was Ruth Kelly’s last act in office before she resigned as transport secretary.