MORE TRANSPORT INVESTMENT FOR THE SOUTH EAST

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VAST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK IN THE SOUTH EAST were unveiled earlier this week at the launch of the consultation draft of the Regional Assembly's Transport Strategy for the South East.

The Strategy - entitled 'From Crisis to Cutting Edge' - sets out a vision of a high quality transport system which should aim to rival the best in North West Europe by 2021.

Speaking at the launch, David Brooks-Wilson, CBI representative on the Assembly and Vice-Chair of the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee said: "The transport system of our region is currently in crisis. There is congestion on the roads, our train services are unreliable, our local bus services are under threat and even our air services are disrupted. All of these factors lead to dissatisfaction- the general public are unhappy and, even more worrying for the South East's economy, so is business.

"The Strategy which was launched for consultation today will help the South East get out of this crisis and develop a transport system which is cutting edge. It provides a clear regional framework for government investment, arguing the case for major long-term schemes like the Great Western upgrade, and for local schemes that can deliver practical short-term solutions like improved bus travel, for people who live and work in the region."

Proposals for the South East
The Regional Transport Strategy identifies a two-prong approach for improving the transport system of the South East- "Invest and Manage". Key proposals for investments in the South East include:

• Upgrading of the Great Western Main Line between Reading and Paddington;
• The development of the Crossrail scheme so that it links Reading to Ebbsfleet in Kent via London;
• Development of the East-West Rail Link, linking Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes;
• Improvement of the public transport links to Gatwick Airport;
• An upgrade of the Southampton to West Midlands rail link;
• Development of Fastrack, the guided bus system in the Thames Gateway;
• Development of the light rail system in the Medway, Medway Transit;
• Substantial improvement to transport corridors, especially rail, along the South Coast.

Mike Gwilliam, Director of Planning and Transport at the Regional Assembly added: "The Regional Transport Strategy does set out the case for an ambitious programme of more investment in road, rail and, especially, public transport. However, investment alone is not enough. We all need to acknowledge that we, meaning both businesses and individuals in the region, need to start adjusting our travel behaviour. In order to facilitate this, the Strategy also proposes a series of "Mobility Management" measures, including travel planning and tough parking standards which aim to help adjust people's pattern of travel in a way that ultimately gives people greater choice in the way they make their journeys.

"We also think that the time is right for us to have a debate about the introduction of traffic charging in the region. In the Strategy, we are not saying what type of charging should be introduced and where it should be introduced. Rather, we are saying that charging could be an important element of transport planning for the future."

The Consultation Process
The Regional Transport Strategy is currently out for public consultation. The consultation period will be for 12 weeks, starting on 25 June and ending 18 September. Reference copies of the Strategy, and its accompanying Synopsis, are available at libraries throughout the South East. Addition copies of the Draft Strategy can be purchased from the Assembly for £25 (inc. VAT). Copies of the Synopsis are available from the Assembly free of charge.

Both the Draft Strategy and its Synopsis are also available in the strategies section of this web site.

Anyone wishing to comment on the themes and policies set out within the Strategy can contact the Regional Assembly Secretariat on 01483 555200 or email secretariat@southeast-ra.gov.uk.

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