Dirty deals blast at transport boost
Campaigners fury at car-friendly spending
VITAL funding for revamping cities is not being used on enough eco-friendly projects, campaigners said yesterday.
Scotland’s City Region Deals have sparked a £1billion bonanza of spending on high-carbon road projects, research claims.
Sustainable charity Transform Scotland branded the spending as “dirty deals” which prioritise cars over green public transport.
In total, the six City Deals – which began in 2014 with Glasgow – are worth £4.6billion, including £1.3billion for infrastructure.
But despite Scotland’s legally binding climate targets, Transform Scotland said 70 per cent of those funds have gone on road-building instead of eco-schemes.
It said “high-carbon projects” include the £151million Cross Tay Link Road near Perth, a £107million roundabout at Sheriffhall, Edinburgh, £35million to link up the A9 and A96 in the north of Scotland, £25million on a road to Aberdeen South Harbour and a £6million junction on the M8 near Newhouse.
Outside of road transport, the charity criticised a £10million investment to expand routes at Dundee Airport, with aviation “the most polluting mode of transport”.
Funding for City Deals has usually been split 50/50 between the Scottish and UK governments.
Advocates for the deals say they’ve boosted vital infrastructure and also funded improvements.
In the north, campaigners have repeatedly accused ministers of breaking promises to dual and upgrade the A9 and A96.
But Transform Scotland insists road-heavy investments risk locking Scots into “unsustainable transport for decades to come”.
Director Colin Howden said: “The City Deals provided an opportunity for transformational investment in transport in our cities. But local and national politicians have instead blown the cash on a new round of road-building that will generate more traffic and higher emissions.
“These politicians could have decided to reduce inequalities by investing in public transport and in our streets.
“But instead they decided to worsen inequalities and increase climate emissions by spending public funds on schemes that will further benefit the more affluent.”
In its report, Dirty Deals, the group is calling for road projects to be halted pending a climate assessment – as has happened in Wales.