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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Campaigners make road charge call | Campaigners make road charge call |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Environmentalists have called on politicians to explore the use of congestion charging to tackle Scotland's transport problems. | Environmentalists have called on politicians to explore the use of congestion charging to tackle Scotland's transport problems. |
| The plea comes after the extension of the London Congestion Charge, which it is claimed has cut city centre traffic. | The plea comes after the extension of the London Congestion Charge, which it is claimed has cut city centre traffic. |
| Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland said air pollution was harming the health of the public. | Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland said air pollution was harming the health of the public. |
| Last year, a Scottish Executive study concluded that road tolls were unlikely to be introduced in the near future. | Last year, a Scottish Executive study concluded that road tolls were unlikely to be introduced in the near future. |
| FoE Scotland claimed congestion charges and better public transport could be the solution. | FoE Scotland claimed congestion charges and better public transport could be the solution. |
| Chief executive Duncan McLaren said: "Building new roads and bridges is not the answer. They will simply lead to more traffic and more congestion. | Chief executive Duncan McLaren said: "Building new roads and bridges is not the answer. They will simply lead to more traffic and more congestion. |
| We need measures to get people out of their cars and on to safe, convenient and affordable alternatives Duncan McLarenFriends of the Earth Scotland class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5558&edition=1">Have your say on charges | |
| "We need a package of measures to get people out of their cars and on to safe, convenient and affordable alternatives. | "We need a package of measures to get people out of their cars and on to safe, convenient and affordable alternatives. |
| "This means greater investment in public transport, safer streets for cycling and walking, better land-use planning, and the introduction of a fair system of road-user or congestion charging." | "This means greater investment in public transport, safer streets for cycling and walking, better land-use planning, and the introduction of a fair system of road-user or congestion charging." |
| The executive report said a previous 'No' vote on congestion charging in Edinburgh and the time and money required to develop a national congestion charging scheme suggested that such schemes were only a distant possibility. | The executive report said a previous 'No' vote on congestion charging in Edinburgh and the time and money required to develop a national congestion charging scheme suggested that such schemes were only a distant possibility. |
| Ministers have pledged to stabilise the volume of traffic on Scotland's roads by 2021. | Ministers have pledged to stabilise the volume of traffic on Scotland's roads by 2021. |
| Scheme extended | Scheme extended |
| In 2003 transport accounted for almost a fifth of all Scottish greenhouse gas emissions. | In 2003 transport accounted for almost a fifth of all Scottish greenhouse gas emissions. |
| The amount of traffic in Scotland has grown by almost 20% since in 1994. | The amount of traffic in Scotland has grown by almost 20% since in 1994. |
| This weekend marked the fourth anniversary of the London Congestion Charge. | This weekend marked the fourth anniversary of the London Congestion Charge. |
| On Monday morning, the scheme was extended to the west of the city, covering most of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. | On Monday morning, the scheme was extended to the west of the city, covering most of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. |
| Air quality | Air quality |
| Mayor Ken Livingstone said the amount of traffic entering central London during charging hours had been cut by about 20%. | Mayor Ken Livingstone said the amount of traffic entering central London during charging hours had been cut by about 20%. |
| It has also increased bus and bicycle use as well as cutting carbon dioxide emissions. | It has also increased bus and bicycle use as well as cutting carbon dioxide emissions. |
| However, a spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls Scotland (NAATS) claimed the London scheme had not reduced congestion or improved air quality. | However, a spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls Scotland (NAATS) claimed the London scheme had not reduced congestion or improved air quality. |
| "The people of Edinburgh saw through these myths two years ago when we had the toll poll. The people of Scotland will not fall for these myths now," he said. | "The people of Edinburgh saw through these myths two years ago when we had the toll poll. The people of Scotland will not fall for these myths now," he said. |