Taxi Driver Online

Evening News (Edinburgh)

June 24, 2006, Saturday

HEADLINE: Thousands back News survey to find city's views on travel

BYLINE: Michael Blackley

THE Evening News transport survey launched this week has been welcomed by politicians and business groups as a valuable attempt to find out what people in the city think about transport issues.

Already more than 2320 responses have been received as readers have their say on some of the burning issues within the Capital at the moment.

The survey is one of the most comprehensive ever undertaken into transport issues in the Lothians and will provide important research for transport planners within the city and beyond.

It will be the most in-depth look at what people living in the Lothians really think about some of top issues affecting them. Among the questions asked in the survey are whether the city's trams network is a good idea, if a rail link to Edinburgh Airport is needed and whether a second crossing should be built over the Forth.

The cost of taxi fares, what should be done about car parking in the city and whether a rail link with the Borders is required are also looked at.

Councillor Andrew Burns, the city's transport leader, said the survey findings would be studied by the council as part of its transport consultation. He said: "The city council is running its own consultation on local transport strategy. I very much welcome any additional feedback that comes through the Evening News survey. It is, however, disappointing the survey has no reference to the major elements of walking and cycling. That said, I look forward to seeing detailed results on the other modes of transport."

It was also welcomed by business groups, who say their members are always looking for avenues to affect transport strategy.

Tim Steward, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: "We are doing our own survey of businesses on Leith Walk on what they think about trams, so it will be very interesting to look at the wider view in Edinburgh as well. What is being done by the Evening News is welcomed by the FSB and it is good that it is continuing to encourage the debate on transport issues."

Graham Bell, a spokesman for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "The most important thing for people planning transport is to know what people want, so this will be a useful survey.

"It'll be very interesting to see what people regard as priorities in transport because that determines what is done first."

The response is expected to grow as more post is received at the Freepost address set up for readers to send the completed survey to.

Readers wanting to have their say on some of the vital issues involved in the survey can still give their opinion by logging on to www.edinburghnews.com/transport.
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