News Release : 21 February 2001

NEW REGIONAL PLANNING BODY VOTES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO A3 HINDHEAD WITHOUT TOLLING

Members of the South East England Regional Assembly voted in favour of improvements to the A3 at Hindhead, when they met last week to decide advice to government on regeneration and transport in the South East.

129 representatives from all of the region's local authorities, as well as economic, social and environmental bodies attended the first Assembly plenary of 2001 at Aylesbury Civic Centre in Buckinghamshire, where they discussed and voted on recommendations relating to the A3 Hindhead Roads Based Study.

Members' advice to the Secretary of State is that the proposed scheme for the A3 at Hindhead be added to the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements; and that the proposed scheme be constructed without the introduction of road user charging.

Councillor Nick Skellett, Chair of the Assembly's Planning Committee and Surrey County Council leader said:
" The Assembly's support for the proposed solution at Hindhead reflects the importance attached to delivering this much needed investment. The Assembly has accepted that the introduction of tolling as part of the scheme would have had a substantial effect on the local environment and weakened the economic case in its favour.
It is time to deliver the benefits of the scheme."

The Assembly's formal recommendations will be sent to the Secretary of State later this month.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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