REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY PRESS FOR ACTION ON SOUTH COAST CORRIDOR TRANSPORT

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SEEDA) have written to Transport Minister Tony McNulty re-emphasising the need for Government agencies and partners to work more closely to deliver economic regeneration along the south coast.

The Regional Assembly is pushing for swift action on the key elements of the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal Study (SoCoMMs) deferred by the Government in July 2003. Following a positive recent meeting with the Minister, the Assembly is working together with SEEDA to ensure that:

• Initial results of the studies by the Highways Agency to review the options for addressing bottlenecks on the A27 at Chichester, Arundel, Worthing, Selmeston and Wilmington are available by spring 2004;
  
  
• The Strategic Rail Authority works with stakeholders over the course of the next six months to progress the Coastway services. The recent public examination of the Regional Transport Strategy confirmed that these services are of regional importance;
  
  
• The Government responds positively to our call for an urgent review of current revenue funding as part of its commitment to support a greater role for the bus and coach network along the south coast.

After meeting the Minister Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the Regional Assembly, said: "It is important for those who live and work on the south coast that we now have the personal commitment of the Minister to solving its transport problems. This is real progress following on from the disappointment of the Government’s July announcement. The Assembly will continue to work with SEEDA to keep the pressure on to deliver transport investment along the south coast. This is absolutely essential if we are to see the successful regeneration of South coast communities. "

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