A FEASIBILITY study into sustainable transport commissioned by the Scottish Office in the run-up to the Government's Integrated Transport White Paper has concluded that a pivotal role in changing current travel patterns must be taken by local authorities, writes Elizabeth Buie, Environment Correspondent.

The report, which was welcomed by Scottish Transport Minister Henry McLeish, found that local authorities would have to define any transport strategy, manage the process, and influence others.

The report, which was based on a study of Aberdeen's transport system, also found that if progress was to be made, it was likely to be on the basis of no-cost or low cost solutions which involve the re-allocation of road space away from the private car.

One of the key findings of the survey was that, in understanding barriers to reduced car use, the issues of convenience and the quality of travel were generally far more important than cost and time.

The study predicted that a combination of schemes could lead to significant reductions in the number of car trips - a quarter less by 2011 in Aberdeen, for instance - compared to doing nothing to halt traffic growth.