All City Deals must now be eco friendly
NICOLA FINDLAY
Projects like Stewartfield Way should be adapted to meet the needs of the country’s greenhouse gas targets.
That’s the stance of the Scottish Government who say all City Deal projects must now have a focus on the climate emergency.
A spokeswoman for the government told the News it had been“made clear” there should be a continued focus on “appropriateness”of proposals in light of “changing circumstances”.
And campaigners in East Kilbride say that supports their calls to ditch plans for the dualling of the road.
Opponents have slammed South Lanarkshire Council’s (SLC) £62million plans for the carriageway, saying a revitalised‘Green City Deal’is now needed.
Projected to take three years to complete, the construction process of the road alone would increase pollution and damage the environment.
That’s as well as concerns over the number of cars that would eventually use the new road on a daily basis.
Green campaigner Kirsten Robb said: “Transport is already the sector which contributes the most to carbon emissions and SLC state the project will ‘accommodate additional trips’.
“Evidence also shows increasing road capacity – dualling – will increase emissions because more traffic will use it.
“Dualling the Stewartfield Way will undermine climate targets, increase traffic pollution and would be a missed opportunity to provide the world class public transport system our region deserves.”
SLC previously said they did not want to spend money on a full environmental impact survey, but would do if plans progress.
Researchers in the States found living near to a noisy road can triple your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
And according latest findings from the World Health Organisation, pollution causes one thirds of all deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease.
Objections were supported by a number of politicians, with Dr Lisa Cameron MP calling for a U-turn on plans.
She told the News:“All modernisation plans must take full account of environmental issues or we will be doing a significant disservice to future generations.”
We told you last month how – despite protestations from SLC – that the City Deal cabinet had red-flagged the Stewartfield Way project in October, saying it was“unachievable”because of “major issues”.
It is believed, although it has not yet been made publicly available, that proposals have been moved to an ‘amber’warning, which states the proposals still have“significant issues” attached.
The results of the well-attended public consultation process that took place in November is expected this spring.
The council’s head of roads and transportation, Gordon Mackay, said the dualling project would benefit the environment because it would“result in fewer cars queueing”on Stewartfield Way, therefore“reducing the amount of emissions caused by idling engines”.
He believes alternative fuel sources should be used in the transport sector to minimise emissions.
Mr McKay added:“As a council we actively support that agenda and are looking at ways of introducing electric vehicle charging points across South Lanarkshire.”