Hundreds of supporters of the Stop Climate Chaos campaign gathered in Edinburgh to demand that the Scottish Government reverses proposed cuts to the budget for new cycling and walking facilities.

The cuts have been described as a ‘disaster for walking and cycling’ by local cycling campaign group, SPOKES. A claim echoed by an array of environmental groups that helped to organise the protest.

They warn that if the Scottish Government spending plans are not altered, the rapid rise in cyclist numbers in some parts of Edinburgh will falter and government targets to boost cycle use and tackle climate change will not be met.

After being presented with a list of demands from the campaigners, Keith Brown MSP, Scottish Government Transport minister said: “I think if you look at the money that we’re spending on roads that has been identified today you’ll find that some of that spend includes improved facilities for cyclists. For example, the M74 – every major road scheme we do takes traffic off local roads.

“Many of the road projects that we do include cycle lanes that run alongside them. For example where I live is the new A907. The old A907 is now actually used by cyclists and walkers, so yes that budget line can also help cyclists as well.

"We’ve seen a major increase, from 28million to 48million cyclists using the national cycle network between 2008 and 2010, and it’s probably time to consolidate that and try increase the use of the cycle network that’s there, at the same time as trying to keep our eye out for any additional funds that may be available.”

During his speech to the crowd the Minister did not give any suggestion that the proposed budget cuts would be reversed and blamed cuts from the Westminster government.

The only olive branch on offer to the gathered crowd was a hint that the active travel budget could be bolstered by ‘consequential’ money.

This is extra money, often received at short notice, as Scotland’s share of cash from new spending that might be announced by the Westminster government in the months ahead.

Speaking at the protest, Dave Du Feu, from the Lothians Cycle Campaign, SPOKES said: “It’s very disappointing that the Transport Minister didn’t offer more money as the overall transport budget is actually rising by £100m.

“The only slight glimmer of hope is what he calls the consequentials – the extra money that the Scottish Government may receive from Westminster”

“But overall I think we’ve shown that money is being cut – it’s being cut by a third. And when you consider that the trunk road budget is going up by a hundred million there’s no excuse.

"They can’t make the argument that it’s due to UK Government cuts when they’re putting an extra £100 million into trunk roads.”

SPOKES calculations, which have previously won praise from a cross-party Holyrood Committee, have shown that national spending on active travel is set to drop from 1.21% of total transport spending to just 0.67% in 2013.

Prior to the last Holyrood election, The SNP manifesto pledged to boost the proportion of money spent on active travel facilities.

The city’s Transport leader, Liberal Democrat Councillor, Gordon MacKenzie criticised the Minister for failing to live up to his party’s manifesto pledges, having cycled to the protest himself.

He said: “I think his comments today were a pretty weak excuse actually for not living up to what’s in their manifesto.”

Commenting on the likely impact of the cuts in Edinburgh, he said: “There’s no doubt that public finances are under pressure and the sorts of cuts we’re seeing in the cycling, walking and safer streets budget will feed through.

“I’m going to do what I can to try to protect that budget in Edinburgh but you know they had a manifesto commitment, they’ve not lived up to it, and we have to deal with the consequences. We’re going to try very hard to do that.”

Ally Grieve owner of a local bike shop, Soul Cycles, shut up his shop so that he and his staff could attend the protest.

He said: “I believe that a lot more funding should be added to Edinburgh. We don’t have enough in the way of cycle lanes, the potholes are terrible and we’re here just to show our support.

“We’re a local business, cycling is growing rapidly and we want to encourage it as much as we can. So today, we closed the shop and all the staff have come down to support this protest.

“I’m sacrificing my own wages and paying the staff to come down here. It’s a worthy cause.

Despite this, he was also unimpressed with the response from the Scottish Government.

He added: “The Minister hasn’t said anything today that can give us confidence that spending will go up.

"We all know it’s tough financial times at the moment but when there are such sad incidences like the accident last week on the Lanark Road, there’s clearly evidence that we need to be spending money on cycle lanes.”

Less than a week ago, Andrew McNicoll, a 43 year old cyclist from Balerno, who was an experienced biker and a member of the Edinburgh Road Club, died from injuries sustained on Lanark Road when he hit a parked car in an incident in which a lorry was also involved.

Although Mr McNicolls family say they may never know exactly what happened, they have since launched a memorial website and a campaign that calls on the authorities to invest more in safer facilities for cycling.

On the campaign website, relatives have written: “If the ‘powers that be’ want us to be healthier, fitter and more environmentally conscious (using cars in city centres less) then it must be backed up with the ‘tools’ to do that. Cycling offers that opportunity but we also need road conditions that are suitable and for all abilities.”

The campaign website can be found at www.andrewcyclist.com

IN DETAIL:

Family devastated by death of cyclist who crashed into parked car

Edinburgh Transport Leader urges government to think again on cycle spend.

Edinburgh cycle survey shows marked increase in cycle commuting

See the stats: How the numbers of Edinburgh cycle commuters have changed over the last six years