News Release : 30 May 2001

ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR RAILFREIGHT STUDY FOR SOUTH EAST

The South East England Regional Assembly is calling for an urgent and impartial study to examine the case for a new national freight route around London.

At a meeting of the Assembly’s Regional Planning Committee last week, it was agreed that no view should be taken on the merits or otherwise of Central Railway’s proposals for a railfreight route from Lille to Liverpool until Government and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) have undertaken further studies.

Councillor Nick Skellett, Chair of the Assembly’s Planning Committee said: “The Committee was concerned that the problem of moving more rail freight through the South East was too important to be left to Central Railways, who are interested in promoting their own proposals.”

“So the Committee will be asking the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority to undertake an impartial study of the need and all the options, as soon as possible.”

The Committee will be contacting Ministers at the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions after the election to press the Planning Committee’s concerns and the need for early action.

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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