Labour's transport record condemned

Monday, 27 October 2008 8:00 AM

Labour's transport policy has failed to meet its key objectives over the last ten years and has been branded a huge disappointment, a new book out today claims.

The book, titled Traffic Jam: Ten Years of Sustainable Transport in the UK, criticises the government for failing to carry out its promises set out ten years ago.

Professor Jon Shaw, co-editor of the book, said that "detailed analysis of Labour's transport policies shows that they have been a big disappointment - at best a missed opportunity".

"We don't care enough about transport in the UK," added the other co-editor, Dr Iain Docherty.

He hopes the book "will make people stop and think about the state of our transport systems, and what could and should be done to improve them".

It criticises the government for failing policies and the inability to take bold decisions essential in tackling major problems such as climate change and congestion.

Some of the worst failures included: underinvestment in railways; worsening traffic congestion; rising carbon emissions; neglecting cycling and walking; worsening traffic congestion; and the abandonment of successful tram schemes.

One of the most pressing problems revealed in the book was public transport in the UK, which is judged to be desperately in need of improvement. It calls for more focus on promoting buses, trams and railways instead of roads and airports.

The book argues that a high-quality transport system in the UK is crucial in supporting the economy and that the government should look to other European nations like France for inspiration.

"We don't care enough about transport in the UK," Dr Docherty added.

"In France, Scandinavia and other European countries, there is much more of a policy emphasis on transport, but here it occasionally becomes a key issue when petrol gets expensive and the government doesn't reduce fuel duty. But generally, transport is low on the list of priorities."

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• public services
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• rail
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• road
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• transport