News Release : 09 March 2004

REGIONS TO SET TRANSPORT INVESTMENT PRIORITIES SAYS MINISTER TONY MCNULTY

TRANSPORT MINISTER TONY MCNULTY HAS REVEALED THAT REGIONS WILL BE INVITED TO determine their own priorities for transport investment instead of Government taking these decisions remotely. The minister referred to the creation of a pilot Regional Transport Board for the South East at the meeting of the South East England Regional Assembly at Woking on 3 March. He praised the Assembly’s work on the Regional Transport Strategy and welcomed its decision to commission an investment priority framework as the next stage in the process.

The minister recognised the need to sustain the continued growth of the region by investing in both infrastructure and transport management and he committed ongoing Government support to tackle transport problems. Following the Assembly’s recommendations in last year’s South Coast Multi Modal Study, McNulty announced a £19 million investment to improve safety and reduce delays at Beddingham on the A27.

Airports
Future airport development was also a key subject of debate at the Assembly meeting. Assembly members agreed to challenge proposals in the Government’s Aviation White Paper to build a third runway at Heathrow because of the pollution, congestion and economic imbalance that it would cause. The Assembly is also pressing the Government for further clarification and a precise timetable to put an end to the uncertainty and blight created by the White Paper at Heathrow and Gatwick.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. For further information on the Regional Transport Strategy and multi modal studies, please visit our Transport Section.
   
   
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