REGIONAL ASSEMBLY TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE M25

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY has today received the consultants' final report for ORBIT, the largest of the Government's programme of multi modal studies.

Launched in May 1999, the ORBIT study was set up to investigate the problems of the M25 motorway and orbital transport around London. In their final report the consultants set out their recommended strategy for the M25 that includes proposals to:

• improve the management of the M25
• manage future demand for travel
• encourage public transport and other alternatives to the car
• additional widening of the M25 linked to measures to manage any increase in capacity
• introduce area wide road user charging

The Regional Assembly's recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport will be discussed at the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee in February and at the Assembly Plenary in March, when representatives from local authorities, economic, social and environmental organisations across the South East will have an opportunity to input their views on the study.

The Regional Assembly is seeking the views of key delivery agencies and statutory environmental bodies prior to the Planning Committee. Views from local authorities, specialist agencies and representative bodies received by the Regional Assembly by 24 January 2003 will be taken into consideration by the Planning Committee.

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