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"Health chiefs pick up £3.5m transport bill"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack said more needed to be done to promote sustainable transport such as walking and cycling.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/health/health-chiefs-pick-up-3-5m-transport-bill-1-3614048

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. Calum
    Member

    The question is why she didn't get more done when she was transport minister.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I tried to get a previous multi-site city centre employer with a taxi habit to get a shared staff bicycle or two.

    It was a total nightmare. Helmets, hi-viz and every other sucking wound in the body of transport cycling.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. slowcoach
    Member

    Calum - from Spokes newsletter in early 2002: " ... Sarah Boyack was sacked as Transport and Planning Minister. Though rightly criticised for giving in to media and road lobbyists (including all SNP and Tory MSPs, and many Labour/Liberal!)," (my emphasis) "she succeeded, through hard work and initiatives like the ring-fenced Public Transport Fund, in getting councils at last to start giving higher priority to accessibility, walking, cycling and public transport." So opinion seems to be that she did more than most MSPs then, and is pointing out that more still needs to be done now.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    Next paragraph -

    "

    Transport is now with Wendy Alexander, on top of her Enterprise & Lifelong Learning remit. This may place undue emphasis on 'delivery' of 'big' transport at the expense of everyday accessibility - which Sarah Boyack had the time and understanding to develop. It would be tragic if walking, cycling, 20mph zones, accessibility, etc., lost their current impetus. For example the government CWSS scheme [Cycle, Walk, Safer Streets] needs refinement as some councils still spend zero on cycling [Spokes 80].

    "

    The Daily Record had it in for her, merely for riding a bike. Unfortunately some of her senior colleagues didn't support her when it mattered.

    She was genuinely interested in Safe Routes to School, Home Zones and cycle training.

    I don't remember Wendy being interested. Health Minister at the time, Susan Deacon, was interested but was unable to adequately convince her civil servants and/or Labour colleagues.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. crowriver
    Member

    "Health Minister at the time, Susan Deacon, was interested but was unable to adequately convince her civil servants and/or Labour colleagues."

    So why then would SNP ministers with non-Transport portfolios be able to accomplish what Susan Deacon could not?

    The cause is lost with petrolhead Mackay in the Transport brief. Aye, we can fight on, but I am not at all optimistic.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    "So why then would SNP ministers with non-Transport portfolios be able to accomplish what Susan Deacon could not?"

    Because in last dozen years things have changed.

    Just not enough.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. Calum
    Member

    @slowcoach: Thanks! Maybe she's not too bad ;)

    @crowriver: "The cause is lost with petrolhead Mackay in the Transport brief. Aye, we can fight on, but I am not at all optimistic."

    I agree. A lot of smart people have put the case for investment in walking and cycling, and the SNP have said no. Loud and clear. There might be an extra few million to be squeezed out of them, but that'll be it. Nicola Sturgeon's priority is for more of the same. I do not see the route to the fundamental change that I believe is necessary.

    If they were responsive to evidence and rationality, we wouldn't even need to ask.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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