Green Tax Switch Needed to Cut Carbon Emissions and Reverse Spiralling Cost of Using Public Transport

4.05.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jul 2007

Bedford Borough Lib Dems have repeated their calls for a Green Tax Switch to encourage more people to use public transport

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have repeated their calls for a Green Tax Switch to protect the environment and reward individuals for making sustainable choices after the Labour Government admitted that the cost of using public transport has spiralled since 1997.

Commenting on the issue, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group Environment Spokesperson Cllr Paul Whitehead (Newnham ward) said:

"An affordable, efficient public transport system is vital if we are to cut congestion, protect the environment from rising emissions and help the local and national economy grow. The increasing cost of rail travel is extremely concerning, with the government recently admitting that it has risen by 6 per cent above inflation since 1997.'

"In this same period the cost of bus travel has increased by 13 per cent, while the cost of running a car has fallen by 10 per cent. How does the government expect to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto public transport under these circumstances?'

"We need a switch to green taxes so that people are rewarded for making the environmentally sound choice. It makes sense for the environment, for the economy and for Bedford, where the problems of town centre congestion are well known to us all."