News Release : 15 April 2004

GOVERNMENT’S REJECTION OF TRANSPORT FRAME IS WRONG

THE GOVERNMENT IS WRONG TO REJECT A REGIONAL TRANSPORT FRAME TO DIRECT transport improvements, says the Planning Committee of the South East England Regional Assembly.

Discussing the Government's proposed changes to the Assembly's Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) at its meeting, committee members called for the Frame to be reinstated to ensure future transport investment is spent where it is most needed.

The Frame defines four areas/corridors which need to be developed to improve intra and inter-regional movements by people using any means of transport. The South Coast Corridor is one of those areas that had been defined by the Assembly as a priority for transport improvements.

Government has proposed a small number of changes to the strategy, reflecting strong support for the majority of the strategy at last year’s public examination of the RTS. The Assembly’s Planning Committee has now responded to these changes. In addition to asking for the Frame to be restored, committee members ask the Government to:

• Support a Lower Thames Crossing and stress the need for the Strategic Rail Authority and Highways Agency to work with the Assembly in reviewing the potential for a crossing;
• Reconsider the involvement of Regional Planning Bodies in the national road charging study and clarify the Assembly’s role in considering the issue of charging at the sub-regional level;
• Recognise the Regional Assembly’s opposition to the Aviation White Paper’s proposals on future expansion of Heathrow and Gatwick;
• Recognise the need for a review of car parking provision in new residential developments.

Councillor Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Planning Committee, said: “The Assembly identified the need for a long-term Regional Frame for transport and believes it will significantly improve and help prioritise the region’s transport needs. We much regret the Government’s rejection of the Frame which in our view reflects a fundamental misunderstanding on their part. We believe the Frame would help create a better long-term transport balance across the region.”

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. More information is available here.
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