Unreliable public transport to blame

Coun Lodge is correct in his statement at the end of your Town Hall in Focus article (Aug 27) that 'The council's battle against congestion can only be won in the long term if drivers can be persuaded to reduce their dependence on cars'.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Sep 2007, 08:04 BST

Updated 6th Sep 2007, 08:04 BST

The actions of his council and Government are, however, having the opposite effect. The closure of local facilities and unreliability of public transport caused by deregulation, privatisation and under funding is increasing our dependence on cars. New roads such as the inner ring road reinforce this by attracting more traffic on to the road network.

For example, the infamous Newbury Bypass built in 1998 has already exceeded its predicted 2010 traffic levels by over 20% and peak time congestion in the town is back to original levels.

If Coun Lodge is serious, can he explain why closures of local public services such as schools and post offices continue, targets to reduce traffic and to reduce congestion have been removed from the Local Transport Plan and investment in new roads dwarfs that in public transport?

Rob Murphy, Sheffield Green Party Transport Spokesperson

Town Hall Government