THE Government Green Paper 'Transport - The Way Forward,' the first policy paper for over 20 years, while strong on analysis and observation, is weak on action.

The Opposition transport paper is on the way. I wonder if we can expect it to be any more positive?

So, pre-General Election, the vital transport sector remains in a vacuum. We need to look at a variety of measures, including better public transport, more use of our rail infrastructure, innovative traffic management and elimination of unnecessary car journeys.

But one key factor which neither Government nor Opposition can possibly ignore is the need for the nation to invest a greater percentage of Gross Domestic Product in transport infrastructure.

Our demands on transport, and the way in which we expect it to make a positive contribution to the economy, our consumer needs and our personal mobility, must be served. We invest less in transport than most others in Europe.

We need to create our future plans now, not wait until we have allowed our environment to decay beyond repair.

HEATHER CROCKER, Regional Secretary, The Freight Transport Association.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.