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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider carrying out an up-to-date environmental impact assessment of the A68 Dalkeith bypass, in light of other infrastructure changes that have been implemented or planned in the Lothians since 1996.

The Minister for Transport and Telecommunications (Tavish Scott): The statutory processes for the road are complete. However, the department is currently updating the baseline environmental information. The mitigation measures previously developed for the scheme will therefore be updated and incorporated into the design... download PDF here.

Green MSP meets with anti-bypass protesters - Evening News 24th September 2005

Dalkeith Bypass Review - Scotsman 16th September

The justification for the expenditure of £40 million of public money is based on information gathered over ten years ago. There have been no recent studies of traffic flow in the area to assess the impact of other recent infrastructure investments, namely the duelling of the A1, the A7 Dalkeith bypass and the proposed Borders rail link.

Dr. Christine West, Loanhead

Points of View - Scotsman 6th September

Expediency In relation to your editorial (1 September), "political expediency" is alive and well in the Scottish Executive. On 16 July, the transport minister, Nicol Stephen, announced that the Dalkeith northern bypass would go ahead, despite the evidence in support of the route being more than ten years old. We also have the unedifying sight of an environment minister fully supporting the building of a road through green belt.

Jade Allison, Edinburgh

Transport projects 'driven by political expediency' - Scotsman 1st September

New road in worst jam list - Scotsman 28th August

Green funding - The Times 27th August

Greenspace Scotland is being given £1 million by the Executive to help to fund 50 community-based projects in disadvantaged areas across the country in order to improve local access to clean, green environments. “The ability to enjoy quality green space in an urban setting has strong impact on the quality of life of local communities,” Rhona Brankin, the Deputy Environment Minister, said.

“This additional funding demonstrates our aim to ensure that all communities across urban Scotland can enjoy the benefits of access to clean, safe, green spaces.”

Newbury Bypass Fails to Reduce Congestion
On the tenth anniversary of the start of the long protests against the Newbury Bypass, traffic figures show the road has generated 50% more traffic, and rush hour congestion is worse than before the road within five years of opening.

No holds barred - Society Guardian 11th January 2006

10 years on: Newbury Bypass traffic much higher than predicted - Friends of the Earth 9th January 2006

Newbury Bypass ten years on - huge traffic growth revealed - Road Block 9th January 2006

Transport Policy - Newbury Movement Study - West Berkshire Council April 2005

Useful Links

Portobello Park Action Group

TRANSform Scotland

Midlothian Green Party

Scottish Green Party

Scottish Socialist Party

Road Block

Jam 74

Friends of the Earth Scotland

Scottish Parliament

Two Brewers

Scottish Executive Snippets

Tightening Up Green Belt Planning 5th August 2005

Strategic Roads Review 1999

Transport and Planning April 1999

The Scottish Executive Written Answers - 5th September 2005

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for approving funding for the development of the A68 Dalkeith northern bypass.

Tavish Scott: The Dalkeith Northern Bypass will improve strategic access to the central Borders and bring relief to Dalkeith and its inhabitants by removing through traffic from the centre of the town.

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a multi-modal study has been carried out in respect of the A68 Dalkeith northern bypass.

Tavish Scott: A multi-modal study is in hand as part of the updating exercise for the scheme.

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the impact that the proposed Borders railway link will have on traffic volumes on the proposed A68 Dalkeith northern bypass.

Tavish Scott: The impact which the Borders railway will have is being assessed as part of the updating of the scheme information. The development of the railway proposals has been recognised in the decision to proceed with a single carriageway bypass rather than a dual carriageway.

To view further Parliamentary Questions, click here.

Wise Words Indeed!

Some Scottish Executive Quotes:

"Congestion is overwhelmingly an urban problem - with road traffic predicted to grow by 27% over present levels by 2021. More importantly, with 80% of this growth in and around our four main metropolitan areas (which includes Edinburgh), we must act. Otherwise, roads will be further congested, affecting the reliability of journey times - a major issue for business - and causing further damage to the environment. The challenge is now to lay out a long-term strategy to tackle congestion in these areas. We will therefore strive to stabilise road traffic at 2001 levels (in vehicle kilometres) by 2021, through investing in an integrated package of measures - modernising and improving public transport, promoting alternative modes of transport to the private car, and targeted motorway and trunk road improvements."

See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/transport/stdi-00.asp

"Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. The Executive is committed to tackling climate change and is working with the UK Government to meet both the UK Kyoto target of reducing 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% by 2008-2012 and the domestic goal of reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. Road transport accounts for about 11% of Scottish carbon dioxide emissions."

Another major paper setting out the Executive's 'vision' for transport in Scotland can be found at: http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/library5/transport/stfwp-00.asp