Threat of new war on Scots motorists in transport plan
MOTORISTS are to be targeted with more measures to force them out of their cars –despite no new plans to improve public transport.
A transport strategy published by the Scottish Government yesterday states that failing to take more steps to cut car use is ‘no longer an option’. But green groups condemned the proposals because they fail to set out a public transport revolution and are merely ‘a push on individuals who may not yet have other reliable options’.
The draft 20-year strategy details how the transport system needs to change to respond to climate change, equality, the economy and health and wellbeing.
Ministers have already unveiled controversial plans to give councils the power to impose a new tax on workplace parking spaces, while ‘low emission zones’ which ban polluting vehicles from town centres are also due to be rolled out across Scotland’s cities.
In a sign of more measures to come, the new national transport strategy, which went out to public consultation yesterday, said: ‘The recent predicted trends in the volume of car trips and the adverse impacts this will continue to have on the performance of our businesses, need to be tackled.
‘Not taking steps to effectively manage demand for car use is no longer an option. We need to consider alternatives that encourage single occupancy drivers to shift from making their journeys by car.’
The new document sets out that Scotland’s transport system must ‘adapt’ in order to respond to climate fears and ‘reduce the harmful effects on future generations’. It highlights that a target has been set to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions in Scotland by 2045.
It goes on: ‘Transport is the largest contributor to Scottish emissions. This will be tackled with actions including an ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032.
‘Over the next 20 years, Scotland will see a transformation in transport where sustainable travel options are people’s first choice.’
But the document fails to spell out how trains and buses will be improved to meet increased demand.
Colin Howden, director of environmental group Transform Scotland, said: ‘Transport is the largest source of Scotland’s emissions, which continue to rise and nothing has been done to reduce them in 30 years.
‘Road traffic is the main problem, yet Scotland’s Transport Strategy sets out no new concrete measures beyond a proposal to “start a conversation”.
‘A sustainable transport system can only be delivered with a revolution in clean, accessible, affordable public transport – not a push on individuals, who may not yet have other reliable options.’
Figures published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last month show car use continues to increase.
All vehicles on Scotland’s roads used 3.28million tons of oil equivalent (TOE) in 2017, which is 2.99 per cent higher than 3.19million the year before. It is the largest amount of total fuel consumption by motor vehicles since 2008.
Consumption by diesel cars for personal use hit an all-time high of 1million TOE in 2017 – 5.1 per cent higher than
‘Consider alternatives’
‘Nothing done in 30 years’
951,452 TOE a year earlier. At the same time, fuel consumption by petrol cars for personal use fell from 944,887 TOE in 2016 to 924,873 in 2017.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Unfortunately, the SNP is getting this completely the wrong way round.
‘If it wants people to give up car travel, then it needs to provide public transport which is efficient, reliable and affordable.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘We know cycling, walking, use of public transport and shared transport options all need to be more affordable, accessible and attractive if we are to make this vision a reality.’