3 March 2008
Green transport takes centre stage
SPT’s efforts in developing and promoting sustainable travel solutions took centre stage on the fringe circuit at the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ spring conference in Aviemore.
SPT Chair Alistair Watson gave delegates an insight into just some of the work SPT has been doing to encourage motorists to switch to public transport.
The partnership’s work was commended by Tavish Scott, the party’s spokesman for finance and sustainable growth, and delegates also heard from Gordon Archer of Carbon Accountable, who is helping SPT to reduce its carbon footprint.
In his address to delegates at Saturday’s meeting, Councillor Watson said: “Global warming and all of its associated threat is clearly one of the issues of our time. That’s why the policies SPT has for modal shift - moving the travelling public out of cars and on to public transport - have become an even greater priority than before. Carbon savings have become the name of the game.
“We’re trying to get a better transport system for a better life.”
Councillor Watson said the development of Park and Ride was just one example of SPT’s success in achieving modal shift.
He said: “Our Park and Ride facilities are proving extremely popular in successfully shifting more and more motorists out of their cars for at least part of their journey.”
An increase in Subway patronage to a projected 14.2m this year was also evidence of success, allied with SPT’s work in improving bus services through a five point plan aimed at “more efficient and better managed services”.
Mr Scott said he developed huge admiration for SPT during his time as transport minister in the last Scottish administration.
He said: “In that two years as transport minister I had a very good working relationship with Alistair and his colleagues. I appreciated that greatly.
Major projects
“I have always admired the solidity of the work that SPT does, the rational analysis that they bring to transport issues and the enormous transport challenges they have got in west central Scotland. But also the common sense approach to solving the problems that I think Alistair illustrated in his remarks.”
Mr Scott commended major projects including the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, which is under way.
He said: “I do believe strongly that connecting Scotland’s airports, as Alistair and his organisation are doing in Glasgow, is a really important project for the west and not just because of the Commonwealth Games but because of Glasgow.”
Carbon Accountable director Mr Archer provided illustrations of what using the car means for the environment.
He told delegates that a year’s business travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh in a large petrol-fuelled car produced more carbon tonnage than a round-the world trip by plane.
He said: “We need to change the way we do things and the way that both government interacts and stimulates us to do things, the way the private sector and the public sector organise themselves and the way that we as individuals act.”
ends