Council launches transport survey

GLASGOW City Council launched a major consultation exercise this week, which aims to explore the future of local transport within the city.The consultation addresses key issues such as parking enforce-ment, development of cycle lanes, prioritisation of public transport, pedestrian access in the city centre, road safety and traffic pollution and gives the public the chance to contribute to the strategy. Lord Provost Liz Cameron and William O'Rourke, the city's Roads Convener, led by example by being the first to complete their questionnaire at the library and learning centre at GoMA. Lord Provost Liz Cameron said: "The pub-lic are bound to have their own opinion of the kind of transport facilities they would like to see. "I'm sure they will jump at the chance to have their say and help shape the council's ongoing plans to deliver improved services across the city over the next few years.

Councillor William O'Rourke added: "The council is committed to providing quality transport to its residents, visitors and the thousands of people commuting to and from the city on a daily basis. That's why we want them to get involved so we can make the changes they want to see." The findings will help shape the council's Local Transport Strategy to be submitted to the Scottish Executive later in the year.

The last transport consultation completed in November 2000 demonstrated the importance and value of the initiative, with many of the concerns raised by the public leading to positive investment in local transport now and for the future.

In 2000, the public were overwhelmingly in favour of public transport receiving priority over cars and lorries and wanted more information for passengers. As a result GGC, in partnership with First, has developed and is implementing streamline a ground-breaking priority bus system that provides faster, more frequent bus services and offers pas-sengers real-time updates on the progress of each streamline service at their bus stop. "Streamline demonstrates succinctly the importance of the 2006 Consultation and the direct link between public opinion and Council investment. Councillor O'Rourke continued: "Additionally, 88 per cent of responses to the questionnaire for the previous Local Transport Strategy either "Agreed" or "Strongly Agreed" that residents should have priority over commuters for on-road parking. From this, we imple-mented eight new Restricted and Controlled Parking Zones in areas that suffered heavily from commuter parking. These schemes have been successful in providing local residents priority to on-road parking spaces over commuters."

The council, in partnership with First, has been responsible for implementing Streamline on eight bus routes across Glasgow, including from Maryhill Road to Tollcross Road and Great Western Road to Clarkston Road. The consultation period is open until March and the questionnaire is available online at the Council website, or to order free reply-paid paper copies by calling 0800 027 7362.

Source West End Mail