Inverness public transport summit told of government commitment to sustainable choices
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A “summit” meeting was held in Inverness to discuss the decarbonisation of public transport in an effort to reduce global warming.
It was held in the Spectrum Centre and arranged by Transform Scotland – a wing of Transport Scotland.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We thank Transform Scotland for hosting this summit on the work that the Scottish Government is undertaking to decarbonise public transport and to support modal shift.
“In April, the First Minister published a new policy prospectus, setting out how the government will deliver for Scotland over the next three years. Three missions, centred on the themes of equality, opportunity and community, will be central to this government, and these are all areas where the decarbonisation of public transport has a key role to play.
“Removing carbon emissions from our transport sector is critical to meeting Scotland’s ambitious climate targets. Alongside this, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting ways to make sustainable travel choices more attractive, and supporting people to choose to take fewer journeys by car.
"We know that to reduce car use, public transport has to be available, affordable and accessible.
“Our approach to decarbonising transport is built upon principles of equality, and this is why the Scottish Government is committed to a Just Transition to Net-Zero.”
Highland councillor Chris Ballance (Scottish Greens, Aird and Loch Ness) said: “It went very well and was well attended, but turned into a discussion about the need for more public transport, and the need for more investment in buses and the north rail line from Inverness.
“Most people who attended were enthusiastic about trying to shift more cars off the roads. The trouble is if you spend all the money on roads infrastructure for cars you don’t get any change.
“Inverness has been built for the car for the past 50 years, and until we change that it will continue to be a city for the car. If we make it easier for people to catch buses and trains, people will take the easier option.”
He added that while cars are always going to be necessary in remote rural locations, more could be done to provide facilities in the local centres so doing away with the need for longer journeys.
“I know of two elderly west coast people who drove 60 miles each way to give a blood sample,” he said. “If there was a medical drop-in centre locally once a week, that would prevent such travel.”
Councilor Isabelle MacKenzie (Conservative, Inverness Millburn), said after the meeting: “As Highland older people’s champion, there are numerous queries and concerns regarding public transport in Inverness, as we know with the buses.
“We need more road infrastructure here because people will continue to use their cars because there is not enough public transport.
“And then there’s the Inverness rail station upgrade, when is that happening? Also, not everyone can use digital apps to find connections etc, is another point I would make.”
