More than 15,000 people have signed a petition to support a campaign by the Aberdeen Evening Express.

It will be presented to Scottish Transport Minister Sarah Boyack to show backing for a multi-million pound North East transport cash boost from the Government.

The campaign was started by the local council at the beginning of March and the Express immediately backed the venture, which has sparked what is believed to be the region’s biggest-ever petition.

The council is demanding the Scottish Executive pay most of the £247m needed to create a modern integrated transport system for the region but so far Sarah Boyack has pledged just £1.25m to research the problems.

The newspaper has been inundated with e-mail from people fed up with gridlock on the roads, and has received thousands of completed forms to add to the petition.

Major companies in the area have been encouraging employees to sign up, and petition and forms have been placed in libraries and council offices across the district.

City council leader Councillor Len Ironside said: “The petition has been a fantastic success – it’s probably the largest we have had in this part of the world.”

His feelings were echoed by Conservative leader Coun John Porter, who said: “This is a tremendous community exercise involving the media and public opinion, which we hope will have the necessary effect.”

Back to the campaigns index

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or e-mail us now