NORTH EAST LIB DEMS ANNOUNCE PLANS TO MAKE BRITAIN 'ZERO CARBON'

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Sep 2007

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell MP today announced plans to make Britain 'Zero Carbon' by the middle of this Century. For the region this means a continuation of the commitment to increasing public transport options for the North East and decreasing the region's carbon footprint.

Menzies Campbell said: "We need to be making transport easier to use, faster and more efficient.

"Our proposals include introducing faster trains for the East Coast Main Line, which would work on the existing network, and being creative in getting people to use their cars less."

Liberal Democrat councillor for Newcastle North, Ron Beadle, has been pushing for support of a new Tyne and Wear metro system that would, inline with the newly announced Liberal Democrat plans, increase local public transport options.

Councillor Carol Woods, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of Durham City Council, is opposing plans for a new inner relief road in Durham City.

Councillor Woods said, "There is no need to build another road in Durham when there are options such as the park and rides and the car club." Cllr Woods is currently trying to get the council to fund two more park and ride schemes for the city.

Local MEP Fiona Hall, who works on energy issues in the European Parliament has backed Cllr Woods and welcomed the unveiling of Liberal Democrat plans for a 'Zero Carbon' Britain, which include an extension of the European Union's Emissions Trading System.

Fiona Hall said:

"The increasing amounts of carbon dioxide that we are currently producing are almost certainly the underlying cause of the extreme weather conditions we have suffered over the summer.

"Liberal Democrat plans to increase transport options would decrease the amount of CO2 we emit."