An £800 million transport programme to improve the region's infrastructure was agreed by the South East England Regional Transport Board at its meeting on Friday (27 October).

The proposed improvements, funded through the regional budget , are planned for the period 2011-2016. They are part of the investment in infrastructure to deliver the South East Plan - a 20-year planning framework for the region.

Ten out of 16 new schemes are public transport improvements, which include:

• Four new platforms at Reading station that will improve capacity for passenger and freight services
• Expanding and improving Oxford station, bus priority measures on the A34 and rail improvements between Didcot and Bicester
• High quality bus service ('Coastal Expressway') for coastal towns in West Sussex and links into Brighton and Hove
• Dedicated bus services ('Smartlink') from the south west and south east to the centre of Ashford and linking the international train station, Park and Ride sites and business estates
• Bus priority measures and a bus and toll lane on A3024 to Southampton
• New coach and bus services in the Western Corridor/ Blackwater Valley, including a Park and Ride in High Wycombe area.

Road schemes to benefit from funding are:

• A34/A44 - Improving access to Oxford (north and south sides)
• A27 Chichester Bypass - Improvements to the existing Bypass and local public transport to support regeneration and employment sites.

Chairman of the Transport Board, Cllr Nick Skellett, said:

"The Board agreed a multi million pound transport package to be invested in much needed infrastructure in the South East. This is good news for every part of the region. Earlier in the year, the Government accepted our advice on transport priorities for the period to 2011 in full. We hope we will receive an equally positive outcome for this programme in spring 2007."

"The programme of investment builds upon the Board's previous work and helps to deliver the South East Plan. However, our work on the Implementation Plan has shown that the current level of funding is not sufficient if we are to achieve the significant change in transport that will be needed in order to reduce carbon emissions, impact on the environment and use of natural resources."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Agreed regional transport schemes programme and map
2. The South East England Regional Transport Board operates as a partnership board to advise Government on the region's transport priorities.
3. Cllr Nick Skellett - South East England Regional Assembly and Surrey County Council Leader chairs the Board. Other members from the Regional Assembly are:
   Cllr Jill Baston (Southampton CC),
   Cllr John Howarth (Reading BC),
   Cllr Mary Ballin (Bracknell BC),
   Mark Pearson (East Sussex Economic Partnership), and
   Pam Palmer (RAISE).
   
   Board members from other organisations are:
   John Peel (SEEDA),
   Ian Coates (Government Office for the South East),
   Simon Pratt (South East Forum for Sustainability),
   Gwyn Drake (Highways Agency),
   Clive King (Confederation of Passenger Transport) and
   Paul Plummer (Network Rail).
4. The South East England Regional Assembly is a regional partnership with 112 members representing local authorities as well as social, environmental and business sectors.
5. The Assembly was established by South East local government in January 1999 to provide a representative voice for the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
6. Assembly members include elected councillors from the region's 74 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
7. The Assembly has four key roles:
• Advocacy
  Pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels.
• Accountability
  Scrutinising the plans and performance of regional bodies such as SEEDA to align the region's priorities.
• Regional planning
  Preparing and delivering the South East Plan - the 20-year statutory plan for the region that sets the framework for the sustainable development of the South East.
• Regional policy
  Advising Government on the co-ordination of regional strategies and spending priorities for housing, transport, planning and economic development to improve the impact of public expenditure.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 21 August 2007