MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT EASY

12.00.00am GMT Thu 8th Feb 2007

Responding to the news that the Prime Minister has promised to look 'very closely' at a £600m blueprint to modernise the metro system, Fiona has said that making public transport more efficient, safe and cheaper should be a top priority.

She said:

"For many years the North East has missed out on the level of funding that it deserved.

"I hope that the Prime Minister will keep to his word and support the modernisation of the metro.

"If the Government is serious about tackling climate change, it needs to give every support to energy-efficient public transport systems.

"If only people could travel more efficiently, safely and cheaply by public transport then car use would become less and CO2 emissions would fall."

Commenting on the question of safety Ms Hall added :

"Making people feel at ease on public transport is very important. Durham's park and ride scheme has just won an award for having operated for 14 months without a crime being committed at any of its sites.

"That is an example of the sort of commitment we need to make to public transport to win people over to using it."

The Liberal Democrat is also campaigning for the UK Government to back a law supported by the European Parliament to require all trains to provide extra space for wheelchairs, bicycles and pushchairs.