Green challenge to M74 extension collapses

Friends of the Earth Scotland advised that judgment might be obstacle in future

News, 29 June 2006

An environmental charity has failed in its bid to stop the progress of the M74 extension.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland's legal challenge collapsed in court yesterday. The campaign group wanted to stop the building of the link which will connect the M74 at the east of the city to the M8 at the Kingston Bridge.

An independent public inquiry had recommended the extension should not go ahead, but ministers approved the new road on the basis that it would improve traffic congestion.

FoE Scotland reluctantly dropped its challenge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday following legal advice.

FoE Scotland's chief executive Duncan McLaren said the charity's legal advisers had concluded that the judges - Lords Nimmo Smith, Philip and Clarke - did not intend to accept the terms of the appeal. FoE had been advised that a written judgment from the court might have the effect of making it more difficult to bring other cases in the future.

He said the case illustrated how difficult it was to get justice for communities and the environment.

The five-mile extension will now start in 2008. The extension is expected to cost between £375 million and £500 million, but the delay will increase the costs by between £15 million and £20 million because of construction costs and land inflation.

The tender process for the work is expected to begin as soon as possible. The road is scheduled for completion by 2010.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said the end of the court case did not mean the campaign against the proposed extension was over. However, Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council's leader, said the new road would bring economic and social benefits to the west of Scotland.