LACK OF VISION

12.00.00am GMT Tue 24th Dec 2002

At the Council Meeting on 17th December, Lib Dem Transport Spokesman, Cllr Martin Elengorn, slammed the Tories' proposed modifications to the Council's Unitary Development Plan, particularly those affecting transport.

Said Cllr Elengorn "The Tories' inward-looking and nostalgic approach is exemplified by their belief that a transport policy equally encouraging all modes of transport is sustainable."

"Indeed they give the game away by airbrushing out all reference in the Plan to sustainability. With limited road-space hard choices have to be made and the only rational choice is to give preference to public transport, cycling and walking and discourage inefficient domination of road-space by the private motor car."

"Public transport, cycling and walking make much less impact on the environment per traveller and, if life is to be bearable in the borough in the next 10 years, must be given preference."

"Instead the Tories believe, not in an integrated transport policy, but in trying to please everybody. Thus instead of taking a firm view that road capacity must not be increased they wish to ease points of congestion."

"However this is self-defeating on its own and, in no time at all, sucks in more traffic until congestion is back where it was."

"Equally they have expunged car-free developments from the Plan and maintain that in many parts of the borough the maximum parking standards for new developments should also be minimum standards."

"Both these changes mean that more traffic will be using the roads to get to and from these extra parking spaces."

"The Tories maintain that they are being "realistic" but it is the same realism as that shown by the Government whose Transport Strategy is in tatters because they have lacked the courage to restrain car use."

"While we have concerns on details of his congestion-charging proposals, Lib Dems support the Mayor of London's courage in addressing these vital issues."

"Finally Richmond Tories, while continuing the Lib Dem opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, have expunged the paragraph in the UDP arguing for a sustainable national air transport policy rather than one based on "predict and provide".