EURO-MP SAYS GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT STRATEGY IS FLAWED

12.10.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 26th Feb 2004

The Government's transport strategy is failing to get people out of their cars and on to public transport a Liberal Democrat Euro-MP claimed today. The claim is based on figures from the Department of Transport which show that road traffic in West Midlands has increased by over 7% since 1997.

The figures also reveal the top three Local Authorities in the West Midlands with the biggest percentage increase in road traffic since Labour came to power, these are:

1. Stoke-on-Trent 12.6%

2. Solihull 10.9%

3. Telford and The Wrekin 9.8%

Commenting on the figures West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne said:

"John Prescott infamously remarked that if the Government did not reduce road traffic it would have failed. These figures are the clearest indicator that it has failed the people of the West Midlands and has no answers for our growing congestion problem.

"The Government should focus their attentions on providing safe, reliable and affordable public transport if it hopes to tackle this problem."

ENDS