END OF THE ROAD FOR M74?

SHERIDAN TO JOIN MOTORWAY PROTESTORS ON SATURDAY 19 APRIL

On Saturday 19 April Tommy Sheridan, Convenor of the Scottish Socialist Party will join motorway protestors in Rutherglen at 10.45 a.m. in front of the Mitchell Arcade, Main Street, Rutherglen. Campaigners will be distributing pre-printed postcards of objection, addressed to the Chief Road Engineer at the Scottish Executive, from 10.30am at:

Kwik Save, Crown Street, Gorbals
Somerfield, Victoria Road, Govanhill
In front of Mitchell Arcade, Main Street, Rutherglen.

The proposed M74 North East extension - an eight-lane elevated motorway which will run from Fullarton Road Junction to the Kingston Bridge at Scotland Street - will, says the Scottish Executive, reduce congestion and create jobs in unemployment blackspots. But the opposite is true. Research has consistently shown that where a motorway is built, traffic and therefore congestion increases. Not only that, but motorways ensure that people drive straight through communities without stopping to use local shops and businesses which, after a relatively short time, devastates local economies. In addition, the expected 110,000 cars (Scottish Executive figures) that will use this motorway daily will dramatically increase noise and air pollution.

Tommy Sheridan said,
“The M74 Northeast extension is bad news and JAM74, supported by Transform Scotland, the Scottish Socialist Party, Friends of the Earth and many community campaigning organisations, is determined to stop it. We have until 18 May 2003 to make our objections known - let's ensure we leave the Scottish Executive in no doubt.”

EDITORS NOTE:
The anti-M74 campaign has organised a hustings meetings at 7.30 p.m. 29 April, in St Columbkilles Church, Kirkwood Street, Rutherglen. MSPs have been invited.
[ENDS]
For further info contact Roz Paterson on 0777 333 1943/0141 423 7605 or Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075