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Greens attack minister and Dawe over airport expansion



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GREENS have hit out at a planning blueprint for west Edinburgh, branding it "anything but sustainable".
And they accused Infrastructure Minister Stewart Stevenson and council leader Jenny Dawe of inconsistency over their support for the document.

The West Edinburgh Planning Framework, published on Tuesday, confirmed the allocation of land for the expansion of Edinburgh Airport and put the idea of an M8 link road to the airport back on the agenda, as well as a new International Business Gateway.

But Edinburgh Green group convener Councillor Alison Johnstone said: "The report suggests that it's a framework to support increased sustainable growth while supporting the allocation of land for Edinburgh Airport's growth to 2020.

"It's like Jenny Dawe and the SNP live in two parallel worlds at the same time, one where climate change matters and we should cut our emissions, and another where we need airport expansion and endless unlimited flying. They must either think air travel doesn't have any emissions, or that no-one will notice their inconsistency. They're wrong on both counts."





The full article contains 181 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 May 2008 10:42 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Environment
 
1

Alan B,

15/05/2008 12:23:03
It is important to expand scotlands air links to have a successful economy. The london first approach to developing air links in the uk has been very damaging to scotland.

From a green perpective they need to go with the grain, rather than saying no to everything.

Environomentally we need to have fast train links to london. The journey should take about 2.5hrs. The prices should be regualated to no more that £100 and then u could stop all flights from glas/ed to london.

Euro rail does little for anyone north of watford. Trains should start in the midlands etc.

There should also be services directly from scotland to paris. With a high speed rail service to london the journey to paris should take just over 5hrs. Alternatively a sleeper service would be idea. U can regular sleepers from paris to barcelona, madrid and milan etc. Why none from glas/ed.




2

The ghost of Harry Lauder,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 12:45:50
1 - it is right to say that a modern economy needs international links and you do stress how much more could be done by train. But much of the growth at Edinburgh airport is based around "Prague-stag" tourism, both in and out. This is neither sustainable environmentally nor much of a basis of which to build a modern economy.
3

Edward,

15/05/2008 12:47:05
International Air links are vital to enable sustainable growth to the economy of Edinburgh and Scotland
The Greens should really support this unless of course they want Scotland to languish and go no where, which of course Im sure they dont!
The arguement as regards greenhouse gases has now gone its course as it is now emerging that climate change is no longer down to man made gases alone. Unfortunately the Greens are still on that band wagon
4

Edward,

15/05/2008 12:50:49
#2
Your absoluetly right on this, air links cannot just be about cheapy easyjet type flights to Prague. But needs to focus on serving industry. One of the problems for growth in indutry is not having proper air (or even sea) links to overseas markets, such as North America and the Far East. This has held back any proper investment as companies dont want to set up in or near Edinburgh, if they are going to end up trucking there product to airports in England, where the main connections are. Its not cost effective.
5

JulesF,

15/05/2008 13:47:15
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=kirkliston&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=9.768803,20.478516&ie=UTF8&ll=55.93419,-3.357933&spn=0.009039,0.019999&z=16

Not exactly difficult from the looks of things ?

6

Arthur X,

15/05/2008 13:49:14
I hadn't realised we were back to denying the science of climate change. I thought that was over, but perhaps I was wrong.

The Liberals are exceptionally two-faced on this issue, it has to be said. Let's start being a bit more ambitious on climate change, please..
7

Hickory,

US 15/05/2008 16:00:08
Maybe these lefties will have a change o' heart if a plane overshoots the short runway and slams into their house. These nuts are against anything envolved with human development. They should be relegated to the coprolite pile.
8

Maisie from Morningside,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 17:45:58
Perhaps if "Greens" are so intent in cutting emissions they might set an example by walking everywhere, not owning TV's, computers, light bulbs, heaters,..........
It's not very likely ,is it? they're as addicted to modern conveniences as anyone - they just like to nag everybody.
9

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 15/05/2008 20:12:33
Being "Green" describes their state of envy and being deniers of economic progress and a reasonable standard of living. The Green ideal appears to be nothing less than a) advocating means of reducing the blessed carbon emissions b) denigrating the efforts to do so - the Lewis windmills things is an absolutely classic example. Nice, clean lovely green power - but hold on we might upset the plants. Oh geeza break!
10

Arrow,

edinburgh 16/05/2008 14:36:16
"Gartner, the international information technology research company, estimates that globally the IT industry accounts for around 2 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions - much the same as aviation.

It takes around 1.8 tons of chemicals, fossil fuels and water to produce a PC, and its operation generates 0.1 tons of CO2 in a typical year."

that was an article in the Independent last year and globally how many PC are there? with China and India becoming more affluent how many more will be required. given that on average PC last 3 years we are talking a serrious amount of CO2. how many of the Greens and the other anti-progress brigade use PCs and other such toys but are keeping quiet because it does not fit in with thier wee political agenda. bunch of tree hugging hypocrites
11

The Ghost of Sir William Arrol,

The Forthy Bridge 17/05/2008 12:54:34
While some people have realised that air travel can't be sustained for very long after peak oil; many others I fear still have their heads in the sand.

Haven't you noticed rising energy costs and food prices, with shortages of food and power cuts in poorer parts of the world? This is happening before any significant falls in global oil production, just imagine how things are going to be after the peak when oil output actually declines 3% year on year.

It is expected there will be at least a tenfold increase in fuel costs, and that's just the start of the price rise cycle. Scarce oil will bring more expensive food and heating bills. Sky high motoring costs and taxes. The country will not (for example) be able to afford to repair the roads that currently exist, let alone new ones yet to be built, such will be the cost of tarmac!

Sustainable means being able to keep going on and on. What makes this development sustainable when the liquid fuels that make it all go are going to be in short supply very soon?
12

GBscot,

Idaho Falls 18/05/2008 00:29:25
#3..It's not just the Greens who are anti-Edinburgh Airport..The SNP are as guilty as sin, why did they cancel the Scotland/UK wide Edinburgh Airport rail link? Why are they still dragging their feet on an alternative EARL 12 full months after 'seizing' minority power?

 

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