Morning:
6°c
Traffic stunt promising Londoners a better life Down Under backfires
Evening Standard7 Apr 2008
A publicity stunt to encourage skilled workers to move to Adelaide in Australia has backfired.
Last week we ran a picture of Bec Hardy, of South Australia's Hardy wine dynasty, standing in Hackney Central holding a placard saying: "Sod Hackney traffic. I'm off to Hackney, Adelaide" as part of a campaign to encourage London residents to relocate to her home state.
But in reality, things may not be much better Down Under. An article in the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper at the weekend said: "The State Government's cheeky campaign to lure skilled migrants here neglects to mention we have growing traffic congestion, buckling tram tracks, late trains, an infrequent bus service and drivers branded among the worst in Australia."
Margaret Dingle, of the state's People For Public Transport lobby group, added: "London's transport system is very good as you have the Tube and the buses can run every 15 minutes all night long. We really ought to upgrade the public transport system, otherwise Londoners are going to be very disappointed.''
