Fowler's on warpath, gays Transport 2000
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RAN SPORT 2000 has accused Transport Minister Norman DwIer of paying too much attention to road haulage interests !hen framing his roads White Paper for England, and says iat present policies could lead to world war.
The environmental pressure -oup's West Midlands branch as written to the House of Dmmons Transport Commite, saying that instead of conmtrating on building by3sses, the Government is Jilding "motorway schemes of mbtful benefit to anyone expt the road haulage and road iilding industry-.
And it says that Government aims that motorways save el, reduce accidents, and improve the environment are false. It claims that lorries burn more fuel on motorways than on trunk roads, and says greater savings would be made if more freight were moved on to the railways.
The submission refers to a statement from Energy Minister David Howell that unless the West reduces its dependence on oil there is likely to be a war. According to Transport 2000: -To plan for more traffic will only increase oil consumption and so increase the likelihood of Mr Howell's prediction being fulfilled. Are motorways really worth such an end result?"
It dismisses claims that the projected roads to the ports will help Midlands industry, saying they are equally likely to speed the import of foreign goods into the Midlands.
"Many of these imports will be on continental juggernauts which have paid no taxes towards the cost of these roads. Our competitors will be twice blessed.
It believes that rail access to the ports (eg Birmingham to Southampton and the East Coast ports) will be "of particular importance to Midlands industry'', as would electrification of the South Wales-West Midlands-North-east England route, and the Channel Tunnel.
Transport 2000 concludes by saying that, if the Channel Tunnel cannot be funded publicly, then neither should motorways. "In fact, if motorways are 'so profitable', why should not the hauliers and the road lobby fund them from their own sources?''