Labour plans to back public transport
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• Labour plans to reduce car use, manage traffic growth and change financial incentives so that car use is more expensive than public transport. Speaking in London this week at the conference Transport Policy for Britain, shadow transport secretary Clare Short said that if it wins the next election, Labour will institute a transport policy to combat congestion, pollution and loss of tranquility and countryside.
This will be achieved by a process of decentralisation. Central government would pro
vide stability with regard to setting priorities and funding, added shadow transport minister Graham Allen.
Policy would be carried out at regional and local level: ''There are opportunities to be had if we shake off the dead hand of centralism," said Allen. He warned local authorities to use their powers "or lose them".
Further details of Labour's transport policy will be published in three months' time; a national 20-year transport -Strategy will be produced if the party wins power.