• Back copies of other recent SPOKES Leaflets are available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to SPOKES (addressat bottom of page).
• For a set of all available back copies, please send £1 (we have copies left of roughly 50 issues).
• Back to main news page

Sarah Boyack was sacked as Transport and Planning Minister. Though rightly criticised for giving in to media and road lobbyists (including all SNP and Tory MSPs, and many Labour/Liberal!), she succeeded, through hard work and initiatives like the ring-fenced Public Transport Fund, in getting councils at last to start giving higher priority to accessibility, walking, cycling and public transport.

Transport is now with Wendy Alexander, on top of her Enterprise & Lifelong Learning remit. This may place undue emphasis on 'delivery' of 'big' transport at the expense of everyday accessibility - which Sarah Boyack had the time and understanding to develop. It would be tragic if walking, cycling, 20mph zones, accessibility, etc., lost their current impetus. For example the government CWSS scheme [Cycle, Walk, Safer Streets] needs refinement as some councils still spend zero on cycling [Spokes 80].

The CBI lauded Wendy Alexander's new role but it was slated by Green MSP Robin Harper who said she was in the pocket of big business, and that abolition of a transport-only minister was an "absolute scandal" [H 28.11.01].

There is, however, a deputy with specific responsibility for transport, Lewis Macdonald, who has already made a positive impression at Velo-City and other cycle events. He seems likely to have day-to-day charge of cycling policy.

A further big concern is that Planning is separated from Transport - it is now under Minister for Social Justice Iain Gray!! Yet transport/planning integration is critical, so that new development is only located where accessible by public transport, walking and cycling. No more Gyle's!!

Also disturbing was new Finance Minister Andy Kerr's 2002/03 budget statement [SE 23.1.02]. The only 'transport' schemes apart from road-casualty reduction were "16 road improvement schemes by March 2002, a further 16 in 2002/03 and 5 major trunk road schemes."

More positively, however, Wendy Alexander and Lewis Macdonald, in previous ministerial roles, have both promoted cycling. Jack McConnell too, despite his strange ministerial restructuring, is said to have a green streak [SERA New Ground, Winter 2001]. And when challenged at First Minister's Questions on too-close transport/business links he promised to chair the Ministerial Sustainable

Lewis Macdonald MSP, the Deputy Transport Minister, opens Glen Ogle's Kendrum Viaduct, part of the Sustrans National Network [see article on web page 1 - Lowland/Highland Trail leaflet]. A new steel arch had to be installed across the central span. Also: Cllr O'Brien, Stirling; Eileen Calveley, Tourist Board. photo: Whyler Photos 

Development Committee "to ensure environ-mental issues are a top priority in the administration and run across every department." A valuable quote to use!! - though the government's road-building plans make it look rather a token gesture [artiles on web pages 1 - Transport Turmoil and 3 - Climate Change].

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Now is the time to lobby new ministers. On cycling, try Lewis Macdonald; on linking planning and transport, Iain Gray; or if the new ministerial arrangements worry you, Jack McConnell. Ministers are most likely to actually see your letter if you instead write to your own MSP [factsheet 1], asking them to raise your concerns with the Minister. 

Some important areas to write about now...

• Too few Scottish Councils take cycling seriously as a transport mode - to the detriment of government policy and targets. Only 35% of Scottish Councils attended Velo-City [Spokes 80] - less than the English councils!! Our annual survey of Scottish councils [Spokes 80] found on average a third of what they had allocated/raised for cycling remained unspent - possibly due to inadequate staffing. And some allocate nothing - despite a specific government CWSS allocation [see above].

• In England [LTT 1.11.01, DTLR 16.1.02] the government has re-invigorated the National Cycle Strategy, as bike-use targets are not being met. A National Cycling Board chaired by former transport minister and cycling advocate Stephen Norris includes John Grimshaw of Sustrans and other real movers and shakers. It controls a £1m annual budget. Minister John Spellar said "Dynamic action is needed to implement the National Cycling Strategy. I will give full support to the Board in identifying and unblocking obstacles to progress". Similar high-powered and determined action is vital in Scotland. Please write - help make it happen!!

• Since the Tories abolished Regional Councils such as Lothian in 1996 [Spokes58,61], levels of cycle expertise/ commitment in some of the new small councils have been a concern. The government now seeks to promote co-operation and expertise in all local transport matters through regional transport bodies such as Sestran (S.E. Scotland) and Westrans (West Scotland).

Westrans aims to act on cycling, with a subgroup to develop council expertise and cross-boundary facilities. They may also apply to the Public Transport Fund for cycle project schemes. Sestran, however, while pro-cycling, is leaving action to each council, even though there has been very varied commitment so far. The government should require all such transport bodies to develop regional cycle strategies and the expertise both for cross-boundary and internal cycle projects.
 
• Wendy Alexander has promised several long-awaited rail projects [SE 15.1.02] including Dunfermline/ Stirling, airport lines, and complete Waverley station rebuilding. Will these really happen and, if so, will they be bike-friendly? - bike carriage, decent station access and parking, a cyclepath from Princes St via Waverley to the new Parliament and to the Innocent path, etc.?  

  ---

Our annual survey [Spokes 80] showed money allocated or raised for cycle work by Scottish councils underspent by one third! In 2000/2001 some £3.5m of the £10.5m available was thus lost or deferred - 75p for each person in Scotland.

We suspect many Councils allocate too little staff time to cycle projects - they are relatively cheap, but may take as much negotiation, consultation, planning and legal work as a road scheme. A new report [LTT 1.11.01] suggests we are right - and that the whole UK local sustainable transport agenda is imperiled by lack of skills. Indeed, graduates from other fields are often taken on, then trained in-house.

Our survey also suggests that councils with higher cycle staffing [at least 0.5 full-time-equivalent] are significantly more successful in raising big cycle project funds from outside sources - far outweighing their salary costs.
 

External cycle funds raised by council	< £200K	£200K
No. of councils with < 0.5 FTE cycle staff	16	1
No. of councils with 0.5 FTE cycle staff	1	7

Eighteen months ago [Spokes 77] Transport Minister Sarah Boyack doubled the Public Transport Fund to £150m over 3 years [still dwarfed by government road expenditure!], and announced higher priority for walking and cycling within it. "There have been too few cycling and walking projects", she said. Councils are now getting the message that integrated projects including cycling and walking are more likely to succeed. Successful bids for 2002/03 include the following [SE 22.10.01] [only the cycle elements are described here]...

1. Aberdeen £1.8m, major cycleroute linkages through the city centre, linking outer and orbital routes, plus parking.
2. Dumfries & Galloway £1.8m, cycle/walk University links, including cycle bridge over Nith river.
3. Falkirk £2m, improved cycleroute links to schools and to Falkirk High and Larbert rail stations.
4. Perth & Kinross £2.1m, bus/bike commuter route
5. Stirling £3.7m, cycle links to Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and Stirling rail stations.

We urge you to comment on any of the following that concern you. Please copy your letter to Spokes a.s.a.p. so we can take it into account in our own submission...

'EDINBURGH & LOTHIANS STRUCTURE PLAN'

This strategic planning document guides major land-use up to year 2015. Transport and accessibility are central; also housing, economic development, environment, retail. We are pleased that transport and accessibility seem well integrated - so please comment on all chapters, not just the transport section. But two initial thoughts on that chapter...

• There are several controversial/expensive road proposals, including, Midlothian - A68 (second Dalkeith bypass) and E.Lothian - A1 dualling to Dunbar.
• There is no mention of council investment in walking and cycling. eg. table 5.1 could include 'city cycle network.'

'SCOTTISH TRANSPORT APPRAISAL GUIDANCE'

This is a fairly technical document on how councils and other bodies should appraise and select transport projects in a consistent way. It is already to be used, in its draft form, for all council 2002 bids to the Public Transport Fund. However, controversial government road schemes, such as A1 dualling and the M74, will not be assessed with STAG!

STAG entails a quick initial appraisal of whether a project is feasible, acceptable, and meets government objectives on environment, safety, economy, integration, and accessibility. If so, a detailed 'part 2 appraisal' then takes place.

STAG is intended to assess all transport projects on a level playing field - though TransForm Scotland is concerned that, whatever STAG recommends, actual implementation of non-road aspects faces many obstacles. Stop press: The Strategic Rail Authority's new UK 10-year plan rules out funding any rail scheme advocated by multi-modal studies [LTT 17.1.02, 31.1.02] such as the current Edinburgh-Glasgow road/rail corridor study!

Other issues are how to weigh economic aspects against environmental/social; and whether long appraisal is sensible for small schemes with apparent quick or obvious benefits.

An outline of STAG, and of reactions to it, appears in Scottish Transport Review [STR autumn 2001, brian@stsg.org]. The STAG document itself, and a useful Summary, are at www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/transport/stag. There is yet no closing date - this will be set once the draft has been used for a period - details from stag@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

'GETTING INVOLVED IN PLANNING'

Have you commented on a planning application for a new development, or a Council Local Plan, and been dissatisfied with how your comments were treated - or other aspects? The government is consulting on how the system should be changed. The consultation paper is free from 08457.741741 or www.scotland.gov.uk/planning. Comments by: 31.3.02.

'NPPG2: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'

The Planning System is intended to contribute to economic prosperity. How far must such development take account of environmental sustainability and social justice? The government is consulting on new guidelines for such issues.

The draft NPPG says development, even in rural areas, 'should take account of access to services and the overall need to reduce travel.' It should be 'accessible to walking, cycling and public transport' and should have 'maximum rather than minimum car parking standards.' But it also talks of 'simplified planning zones', and higher priority for business. Will the new Ministerial arrangements mean that accessibility and environment take a lower role than the demands of business in the final version of the document?

The paper is free from www.scotland.gov.uk/planning or 0131.244.7543. Comments by: 10.5.02.

If any of these bug you, here is where to report them...
Potholes, glass on cycleroutes, broken lights, etc anywhere in Lothian [including Edinburgh], or Falkirk District: [Use number on nearest lamp-post to report exact location]. Freephone 0800.232323; clarence@edin-city-dev.demon.co.uk There is also a Clarence report-form on the Spokes web site.
Bad glass/dumping [Ed only]: Rapid Response 0808.100.3366.
Smoky commercial vehicles: 01506.445216.
Bad taxi-driving: TheInspector, 33 MurrayburnRd EH14 2TF
Drink-driving, speeding, driving whilst disqualified, and other road crime: Freephone Crimestoppers 0800.555.111.

Topof page	SafeRoutes to School	Newsletters	Campaigns	Membership

Links	Questions	Contents	Diary	SPOKES  Home Page