What Can We Hope from a Comprehensive Transport Policy?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Oct 2002

WHITE SWAN TRANSPORT DEBATE “What can we hope from a comprehensive transport policy?” was the topic for a public debate held last week at the White Swan Public House in Old Place Lane on Tuesday evening October 8th.

The meeting was chaired by Baroness Sally Hamwee. Tony Vickers for the Association of British Drivers made a plea for a return to the relatively liberal road conditions which existed pre-1992.

“Emissions are lower from moving vehicles than queuing vehicles,” he explained, calling for an end to bus-lanes, yellow lines and controlled parking.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, called for a suburban transport system that recognised the need for journeys around and across the capital, not just in and out.

“It took me an hour and a half to get to Richmond from Carshalton!” the MP told the meeting. Susan Kramer, former Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London,attached the lack of improvement in Outer London's transport provision:

"Ken Livingston continues to be a zone one Mayor. Buses have improved but we are still crammed into overcrowded trains. Traffic in central Richmond is now as bad as in Soho."

"Transport money needs to be spent here, not just in central London;"All the speakers – and the audience - were agreed on one thing: they wanted to see more school buses and fewer parents delivering their offspring to school in four-wheel drives!

Penny Lee, who organised the meeting on behalf of South Richmond Liberal Democrats, promised this would be the first in a series of public debates. “We want to draw in a wider group of people and listen to what they have to say.

We hope to have debates – proper debates, not just speakers with questions afterwards – on health and education in future.

“ENDS For further information please contact Serena Hennessy on 07929 004636 or Penny Lee on 020 8940 7587