GOVERNMENT MUST COME CLEAN ABOUT CENTRAL RAILWAYS REPORT

Strategic planning is being hindered by the Government's lack of transparency about possible freight routes around London. This is the message from the South East England Regional Assembly.

In June 2001, in its role as the regional planning body for the South East, the Assembly was asked to give a view on the Central Railway's proposal for a rail freight line from Lille to Liverpool, bypassing south and west London. Its response was that the Government should ask the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to examine the case for a strategic rail freight route and to consider all options, not just the one by Central Railway. In particular it emphasised the need to consider synergy with the regeneration strategy for the Thames Gateway.

In March 2002 the Minister, John Spellar, told the Assembly there was a need for further analysis of the proposal and this work would require "close dialogue with interested parties."

But since then there has been no dialogue with the Assembly despite repeated requests. The study commissioned by the SRA has not been made available nor was the Regional Assembly involved in any aspect of it.

"We are very concerned about the lack of openness and consultation over this project which flies in the face of the Government's own principles and the requirements they impose on the Assembly as regional planning body. We are pressing the Government for an urgent response," said Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly's Regional 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