TYNE CROSSINGS ALLIANCE
 
Press release: Tunnel education xing the line

School children are being mislead over the proposed second Tyne road tunnel, says a local transport campaign group.

The Tyne Crossings Alliance, which is campaigning to stop the construction of the proposed second tunnel, says that a new education resource about the second Tyne tunnel amounts to little more than propaganda.

A new internet resource called xingthetyne has been launched, that is supposed to teach children about the tunnel and encourage student participation in democracy and citizenship. However, whilst the site includes much information on the alleged benefits of the proposed second tunnel, no information or resources are given on the evidence against the project.

Tyne Crossing Alliance spokesperson Brian Paget said:
"Those who have a responsibility to ensure that our children receive a balanced education are failing when it comes to the second Tyne tunnel teaching resource. No reference is made to the extensive material prepared by groups objecting to the tunnel. The teaching pack encourages students to think up reasons why a second tunnel is needed, but does not ask them to seriously consider the negative impact of the project, or question the evidence provided by the tunnel promoters."

The pack was prepared by the South Tyneside and North Tyneside Education Business Partnerships, together with Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority and Tyne Tunnels - groups in support of the second tunnel project. One of the external links on the xingthetyne website points to a BBC news item. The rest of the links all point to organisations in support of the second tunnel project.

Mr Paget continued:
"This is like a confectionary company providing a teaching resource on dental health. No teacher should take the second tunnel part of the resource seriously. They should treat it for what it is - propaganda. If the education authorities want to provide a balanced view of the project to teachers and students, they should also include material and points of view of those in objection. Then we can be sure that students would be able to decide for themselves, and indeed develop into informed and caring citizens."

Notes to Editors:

1. xingthetyne at http://www.xingthetyne.info.
2. For further information on the campaign to stop the second Tyne road tunnel see the Tyne Crossings Alliance website: www.tyne-crossings.org/
3. The Tyne Crossings Alliance consists of: CPRE, Friends of the Earth (FOE), Living Streets, North East Railway Development Society (railfuture NE), Roadpeace, The Green Party, Transport 2000, Tynebikes.