SOUTH EAST STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS
THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT IN THE REGION

WITH TRANSPORT ISSUES HIGH ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA, the South East will be tackling key transport issues for the region at the second South East England Regional Transport Forum, in Winchester on Monday, 28 January 2002.

The South East England Regional Assembly, the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) are jointly hosting the conference, entitled "Delivering the Region's Transport Strategy".

The keynote speech at the conference will be delivered by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, David Jamieson.

Other transport issues which will be addressed include:

• The Regional Transport Strategy which the Regional Assembly is currently formulating and will be putting out for consultation in early summer 2002.
• The business perspective on transport issues in the South East. This presentation will be made by Janis Kong OBE, Executive Chairman of BAA Heathrow and a member of the SEEDA Board.
• The implications of the European Transport White Paper for the South East.

The conference will also include facilitated table discussions during which delegates will be able to contribute their views to key questions on the development of regional transport policy.

David Brookes-Wilson, CBI representative on the Assembly and Vice-chair of the Regional Planning Committee, said: "At this time when transport issues are at the forefront of people's minds across the country, and in the South East in particular, it is very important for stakeholders across the region to gather for this Regional Transport Forum. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for all those involved in transport issues in the South East to engage in constructive dialogue about these issues and help the Regional Assembly shape the Regional Transport Strategy."

Charlotte Dixon, Director of Environment, Strategy and Transport at the Government Office for the South East said: "Transport is a key concern throughout the South East and this conference presents an excellent opportunity for the Minister to hear first hand where the priorities lie."

Janis Kong OBE, SEEDA Board Member and Executive Chairman of BAA Heathrow: "The continuing success of the South East region is essential to the national economy. Congestion is one of the biggest problems faced by business in the region. Many parts of the rail and road network are overloaded. This conference provides a necessary opportunity for business to influence priorities for transport investment to address current problems."

The conference will be attended by 200 representatives from the business community, local authorities, transport providers and social and environmental partners.

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