Press Releases for 2005

HEALTH THROUGH BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN CANTERBURY

14th April 2005

The National Health Service's Health Development Agency latest report stresses the need for a reduction in ill-health caused by private transport (1). The report emphasises the need for patient and health staff travel plans including more cycling and walking. It emphasises the need for employer and school travel plans as part of general health promotion strategies. However, the government is obstructing such plans by insisting that local councils include the loss of revenue from fuel duty and VAT to the Treasury as part of cost of the transport plans thereby making most of them too expensive to be authorised. More than 60 green tranport plans were submitted to Government last year by local authorities but only 8 were approved(2). Dr Geoff Meaden, Green Party Candidate for Canterbury comments:

"We all know that greenhouse emissions must be cut. In the UK, carbon dioxide emissions have risen in three of the last four years. Green Travel Plans promoted by local councils like Canterbury City Council are an essential part of getting these emissions under control. The new Labour spin is that they are succeeding in improving environmental protection. But this attack on Green Travel Plans demonstrates exceptional duplicity on the part of the Government."

ENDS c207 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Dr Geoff Meaden, Green Party Candidate for Canterbury on 01227 456806.

Notes:
1. NHS Health Development Agency Making the Case: improving health through transport, 2005
2. The Times 21.02.05 - "Green road plans blocked by greed for car tax cash". The article Explains how the government is obstructing public transport alternatives by insisting that local councils include the loss of revenue from fuel duty and VAT to the Treasury as part of cost of public transport plans thereby making most of them too expensive to be authorised. More than 60 Green tranport plans were submitted last year by local authorities only 8 were approved.

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14th April 2005