This Spokesworker is being prepared just before the long-awaited Transport White Paper appears. The UK version (which includes many aspects relevant to Scotland) is out 20.7.98, and the Scottish one probably 22.7.98. In view of the huge importance of these documents - the first overall plan for transport for many years, and likely to set the stage for years to come - this Spokesworker includes a detailed advance briefing just produced by TRANSform Scotland (now on this website!)
Whilst not everything in the White Paper may be just what we want, the overall direction seems likely to be a great advance for sustainable transport, and there are indications that the relative neglect of cycling in the earlier Green Paper will be rectified.
It seems likely the White Paper will be controversial, and MPs and councillors may fear for their seats if they implement its more radical proposals. Therefore we urge members to write to newspapers, councillors, MPs etc in support of the good parts of the White Paper, and reply to negative press letters and comment.
STOP PRESS:
Link to Government's Transport White Paper for Scotland can be found
at:
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4010/tc-hm.htm
Government's Transport White Paper (England & Wales) can be found
at: http://www.detr.gov.uk/itwp/paper/index.htm
Press release for issue of White Paper at: http://www.coi.gov.uk/coi/depts/GTE/coi4126e.ok
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The architect to design the Parliament building has been announced: Enric Miralles of Barcelona, working with Edinburgh based RMJM architects. His was one of only 2 proposals which included shutting off Holyrood Rd to motor traffic, a hopeful first sign. We urge members to contribute to the debate on the building itself, as well as party policies, etc as explained in our Spokes 69 article. A detailed exhibition/consultation of the physical plans for the Parliament is now planned for Oct/Nov, and will be a further opportunity for comment.
Parliament has passed the Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act
1998, as we hoped. This requires the government to set national targets
for traffic reduction, or to show how other measures would be more effective
in cutting traffic. However, the other factors listed in our
main article all still apply, and we urge members to follow up our
suggestions at the end of the article.
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The Forth Estuary Forum, over 100 organisations aiming to promote "the wise and sustainable use of the Firth of Forth" has issued a lengthy discussion paper 'The Forth - the way forward'. An all-day workshop is planned for 20 August, and it would be good to have someone there to highlight our round-Forth route proposals [see map in Spokes 66], and join in any talk about road/rail Forth crossings. Places are limited, but we might be able to send one member from the City and one from West Lothian. Anyone able to attend please contact Dave SOON, 01506.670165. FEF contact is: Mark Jennison 0131.529.3576.
Falkirk Council is consulting towards a draft Structure Plan, to appear March 1999. Structure Plans guide transport, planning and land-use policies for the next 10 years, so are extremely important documents. Spokes has written pointing out Falkirk's potential role as a long-distance cycleroute hub, involving Edinburgh-Glasgow, round-Forth, Sustrans Edinburgh-Stirling-Inverness, and circular Edinburgh-Falkirk and Glasgow-Falkirk routes. We urge members involved/living in Falkirk area to send in comments on this and other relevant cycling/transport/planning/ traffic-reduction issues. Write to: Structure Plan Team, Strategic Services, Falkirk Council, Abbotsford House, Falkirk FK2 7YZ.
Falkirk Council has also issued an Environmental Strategy consultation document, seeking comments by 31.8.1998. Copies from and comments to Gordon Laird 01324.504713.
The Scottish Office Sustainable Development Team has issued 'No Small Change', their free annual report on sustainable development in Scotland, concentrating this year on relevance to industry and business. Later this summer, the team is to consult on integration of sustainable development into the work of the new Scottish Parliament. The team is also happy to help with any questions or suggestions on sustainable development in Scotland. For all the above, contact Lesley Calderwood 0131.244.0395 or on the Internet at ? (please let us know of the address if you find it).
Aberdeenshire Council has issued the free document 'Aberdeenshire Cycling Strategy', just adopted by the council. 01224.664819 H.Briones.
Wanted: Toddlers bike seat & helmet. 01506.845575.
Advice wanted: Member Frank Howie wants to hear from users of the 'Tow Bars' which convert a child's bike to/from a bike trailer. He is also thinking of joining the Environmental Transport Association and wants to hear from anyone who has used their roadside service. Contact: f.howie@mail.qmced.ac.uk or 0131.229.8128.
Spokes 68 highlighted our disappointment over inadequate links between Scottish Office cycling and health policy. We were aghast at Health Minister Sam Galbraith's apparent view that integration of walking/ cycling into daily lifestyle was an impossible dream, and everyone should go to their local sports centre instead!
Subsequently, we were very disturbed to find a similar view in the Scottish Green Paper on Public Health, particularly when the English equivalent is far more enlightened. For example, the physical activity section devoted 5½ paragraphs to sport, healthy travel being tacked on at the end of the final paragraph, and with no cost-effectiveness comparison of the two approaches. Exercise was seen as something to be 'taken' - an add-on to everyday life, not part of it. Spokes made a forceful submission, which we circulated widely, drawing many supportive comments - notably from Drs. Helen Zeally and Harry Burns, Public Health Directors for Lothian and Glasgow, both of whom sometimes cycle to work!
Letters from Spokes and several members to the Health Minister were instead passed to Transport officials for reply, and a request for a national seminar on Cycling and Health (similar to 3 English regional meetings) refused.
It was therefore with some relief that eventually we saw a letter from
Mr Galbraith to one of our members, in which he back-pedals furiously on
his previously reported comments! He now insists that daily activity such
as walking/cycling is "no less important" for health than is sport
( we would say more so!), and promises the Public Health White Paper will
address these matters. As always, Spokes is very grateful to members
who were sufficiently disturbed by our article to write to their MP. Whilst
we must stay vigilant, you may well have helped improve government policy
on transport and health!
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Edinburgh's Barony Charitable Trust is organising a hilly 30-rider 450km sponsored ride, May 16-23 1999, to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. There is a £200 registration fee, but most costs are covered if you raise £2000+. Organiser is Spokes member and provider of our office at St Martins Church, Canon Bill Brockie, 15 Ardmillan Terrace, EH11 2JW.
The Scottish Green Party is looking for a 28-hour week employee for PR, campaign work, fundraising, office duties, in Edinburgh. Initially must work from home with own computer. Details from: Green Party, PO Box 14080, Edinburgh EH10 6YG; or scot.green@clan.com [Note: Spokes is not party-political, but is happy to see our members become researchers for any political party!].
The No Alignment Action Group has been set up to oppose the A701 road plans [Spokes 69]. Details: Janet Tennant, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0NX.
The European Cyclists Federation, to which the UK Cycle Campaign
Network is affiliated now has a web site, at http://webhotel.uni2.dk/dcf/ecf/.
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