Transport charity slams 'dirty deals' using City Deal £1bn funds on 'polluting' road projects

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland's City Region Deals are “dirty deals” that have caused nearly £1billion of transport investment to go on high-carbon road projects, new research claims.Sustainable transport charity Transform Scotland said a crucial opportunity to hit climate targets had been missed by prioritising motorists over green public transport.In total, the six City Deals - which began in 2014 with Glasgow - are worth some £4.6billion, including £1.3billion for new transport infrastructure.But despite Scotland’s legally-binding climate targets, Transform Scotland said a whopping 70 per cent of those funds have gone on road-building instead of eco schemes.It said expensive “high-carbon projects” paid for with City Deal cash include the £151million Cross Tay Link Road near Perth, a £107million roundabout at Sheriffhall, Edinburgh, £35million to link up the A9 and A96 in the north of Scotland, £25million on a new road to Aberdeen South Harbour, and a new £6million junction on the M8 near Newhouse.Outside of road transport, the charity also criticised a £10million investment to expand routes at Dundee Airport, with aviation “the most polluting mode of transport”.Funding for City Deals has usually been split 50/50 between the Scottish and UK governments.Advocates for the deals say they’ve boosted vital infrastructure and also funded improvements.In the north, local campaigners have repeatedly accused ministers of breaking promises to dual and upgrade the A9 and A96 - which they say will improve congestion and make the roads safer.But Transform Scotland insists road-heavy investments via City Deals risk locking Scots into “unsustainable transport for decades to come”.Director Colin Howden said: “The City Deals provided an opportunity for