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NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday 5th December 2006
Paul Tetlaw takes over as Chairman
Paul Tetlaw has been elected as the new Chair of sustainable transport
group TRANSform Scotland. He takes over from David Spaven who
has stepped down after nine years. Paul was previously the Vice-Chair
and is also Chairman of Edinburgh based Capital Rail Action Group. He
has spent most of his career in the water industry working in the environmental
field and was until two years ago General Manager, Key Customers with
Scottish Water.
Paul said:
“David Spaven will be a hard act to follow; he has ensured that
TRANSform Scotland is clearly established as the national body
campaigning for sustainable transport solutions.
“We now face a watershed in transport decisions, we can choose to
invest wisely in transport modes that will reduce environmental damage
and make our towns and cities more attractive places to live or we can
continue down the damaging road of ever increasing levels of road traffic.
“It is not just about the environment, although that is important
to all of us. We now know the economic cost of climate change thanks to
the recent Stern Report and there is ample evidence of increased health
care costs caused by too many people leading inactive lifestyles.”
Looking at Edinburgh, I’ve got the following five points as top
of my wish list:
1. Let’s deliver the tram project so that we can provide this beautiful
city with a public transport system comparable to those enjoyed by so
many of our European neighbours.
2. At the same time I’d like to see fully integrated ticketing between
trams, buses and trains so that people can easily change modes.
3. We must do much more to make Waverley Station a true world class entry
point to the city. Its setting is just fantastic but passengers deserve
something much better. We can then further develop rail services to the
city and re-open lines such as the South Suburban.
4. I want to see a radical improvement in the train services linking the
other Scottish cities to Edinburgh. We need improved journey times, new
trains and electrification. Some of the current journey times are little
improved from Victorian days.
5. Finally, I’d love to see a lot more effort going into walking
and cycling facilities. We need to create many more pedestrian areas and
tackle those health problems by giving people pleasant and safe routes
on which to walk and cycle.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] TRANSform Scotland
TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign,
bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities,
national environment and conservation groups, consultancies and local
transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable
Scotland. We can be contacted at Lamb's House, Burgess Street, Leith,
Edinburgh, EH6 6RD. Tel 0131 467 7714; fax 0131 554 8656; email <info@transformscotland.org.uk>;
web <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
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