News Release : 05 August 2004

AUTHORITIES UNITE TO IMPROVE THE OXFORD-SOUTHAMPTON CORRIDOR

Future development along a key South East transport corridor will be at risk if the Government fails to support a new study, says the South East England Regional Assembly.

The study, which would be led by the Regional Assembly in partnership with local transport authorities, will identify infrastructure requirements to address existing and future transport problems. It is essential to progress this work as part of the South East Plan, a new regional development framework for the next 20 years.

The busy transport corridor, which includes the A34 Trunk Road and the parallel rail route, is of national and regional economic importance. It provides links to two ports and to Europe. The corridor is likely to be under increased pressure as more houses and other developments are needed in this part of the South East. The Highways Agency, the Strategic Rail Authority and local highway authorities will also take part in the proposed study.

The study will look at the balance between investment, mobility management, public transport and land-use needs. A vital part of the study will be to collect quality data to fill gaps in current knowledge.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly’s Planning Committee and Leader of Oxfordshire County Council said: “The Oxford-Southampton corridor has just been identified as a vital transport link in the Regional Transport Strategy, recently published by the Secretary of State. The congestion, in particular on the A34, needs to be addressed without further delay otherwise the transport problems will only get worse. Local Transport Plans are currently being developed and they need to incorporate improvements for the corridor. The Assembly is working with the local authorities to see what we can do in the short term but Government needs to help us think ahead. We now need Government to make the connections between development needs and infrastructure, and finance this key study.

“As an example, 3,500 houses to be built at Didcot were approved in the Structure Plan and have been put on hold by the Highways Agency. This is because the A34 is at capacity and the Agency will not support additional housing growth that will feed onto this route. Without a solution, the whole A34 corridor could become a no-go area.”

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. A study on the A34 North from Southampton was included as part of Government’s Multi-Modal Study (MMS) programme, announced by The 10 Year Transport Plan in 2000. Originally proposed as a ‘Tranche 3’ MMS, it was agreed to carry out a short scoping exercise to reassess the appropriateness of further study and what form any further work should take. The Scoping Study was carried out between 23 December 2003 and 14 April 2004.
2. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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