THE WAY TO GO PROPOSALS

Early day motion 527, tabled 2 February 2004 by Colin Challen (Labour). Signed by 158 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's stated intention to roll forward its 10 Year Plan for Transport this summer; notes that the current 10 Year Plan primarily focuses on transport in England but its implications will be felt across Britain; further notes the plan's emphasis on large infrastructure-based solutions which will lead to an increase in traffic levels, exacerbating the trend towards increased travel, and favours the wealthiest 20 per cent. of society at the expense of the least well-off; is concerned that its predictions and targets, if fulfilled, would result in a 16 per cent. increase between 2000 and 2010 in the time we spend travelling by car; believes that transport policy should aim to halt and reverse the growth of traffic, not merely congestion and pollution, and to improve access to services and facilities close to people so that there is no necessity to drive; therefore calls for the revised 10 Year Plan to focus on encouraging people to replace more car trips with walking, cycling and public transport, believing that such a plan would contribute more effectively to the nation's health and also to a range of other objectives, including reducing congestion, road danger, social exclusion, pressure and ever more road space, damage to the countryside, and pollution, including noise and greenhouse gas emissions; and urges the Government to reallocate funding in the revised plan to reflect the manifesto set out by the Way to Go campaign, a coalition of over 25 major national environmental and social non-governmental organisations.

Signatures by party: Labour 108, Liberal Democrat 30, Labour/Co-operative 8, Conservative 6, Plaid Cymru 4, Independent 1, Independent Conservative 1.