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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour transport policy 'failing' | Labour transport policy 'failing' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Ten years of government transport policy has been dismissed as "a big disappointment" by a team of academics from Glasgow and Plymouth universities. | Ten years of government transport policy has been dismissed as "a big disappointment" by a team of academics from Glasgow and Plymouth universities. |
| They say the government has failed to cut traffic congestion, ignored the need for railway investment and neglected walking and cycling. | They say the government has failed to cut traffic congestion, ignored the need for railway investment and neglected walking and cycling. |
| The research comes a decade after Labour outlined its new deal on transport in a White Paper. | The research comes a decade after Labour outlined its new deal on transport in a White Paper. |
| Ministers say since then there has been significant investment in transport. | Ministers say since then there has been significant investment in transport. |
| 'Cold feet' | 'Cold feet' |
| In 1998, the then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said he would regard himself as a failure if, in five years, traffic congestion had not fallen and public transport use increased. | In 1998, the then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said he would regard himself as a failure if, in five years, traffic congestion had not fallen and public transport use increased. |
| The new book from the academics outlines the areas in which they say the government has failed: | The new book from the academics outlines the areas in which they say the government has failed: |
| • Traffic congestion is worse than a decade ago | • Traffic congestion is worse than a decade ago |
| • The investment needs of the railways have been almost completely ignored, in particular to increase capacity | • The investment needs of the railways have been almost completely ignored, in particular to increase capacity |
| • Bus services in most of the UK have remained poor, especially in comparison with European rivals | • Bus services in most of the UK have remained poor, especially in comparison with European rivals |
| • Tram schemes have been abandoned, despite proving effective at getting motorists out of their cars | • Tram schemes have been abandoned, despite proving effective at getting motorists out of their cars |
| • Walking and cycling have been largely neglected | • Walking and cycling have been largely neglected |
| • The government is afraid of addressing the environmental impact of aviation | • The government is afraid of addressing the environmental impact of aviation |
| • Transport carbon emissions continue to rise. | • Transport carbon emissions continue to rise. |
| Dr Ian Docherty, from Glasgow University, said the government has been timid in its policies and has "got cold feet at the point when it could have done something". | Dr Ian Docherty, from Glasgow University, said the government has been timid in its policies and has "got cold feet at the point when it could have done something". |
| The government accepts there is now more traffic on the roads, but points out record numbers of people are using trains. | The government accepts there is now more traffic on the roads, but points out record numbers of people are using trains. |
| It also says £100 million is being spent creating cycling demonstration cities. | It also says £100 million is being spent creating cycling demonstration cities. |
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