SRA PLAN NEGLECTS KEY TRANSPORT SCHEMES FOR SOUTH EAST

ALTHOUGH THE STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY PLAN HELPS TO DEVELOP THE RAIL NETWORK IN THE SOUTH EAST, the South East England Regional Assembly believes that there are a number of rail schemes which are of key regional, and national, significance which have not been included. They need to be included in an early revision.

The Assembly's Regional Planning Committee was responding to the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan which was issued in November 2001. The Plan seeks to set out a strategic framework for the development of the rail industry in the period to 2010. Included within this strategic framework is a programme of investment priorities.

The Committee acknowledged the fact that a substantial part of the total finance available in the plan is allocated to schemes within the South East and London regions. However, the following key schemes have not been included:

• An upgrade of the Great Western main line which is vital for the removal of bottlenecks at Reading Station;
• The Airtrack scheme which would improve the public transport access to Heathrow Airport;
• Upgrades at Gatwick Station which would improve the public transport access to Gatwick Airport;
• An East-West rail link, linking Oxford to Cambridge and the East, through Milton Keynes;
• Improvements to the Ashford to Southampton corridor.

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the Regional Planning Committee, said: "The Assembly is pleased with the overall focus of the SRA Strategic Plan but there are some key omissions.

"I have, however, recently had the opportunity to meet with the SRA Chairman, Richard Bowker, and discuss our concerns about the SRA Plan and the future of the rail network in the South East. It was a very positive meeting and the Assembly looks forward to working closely with the SRA to ensure that the development of the rail network in the next ten years sufficiently address the needs of the eight million people who live in the South East."

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