South East transport improvements worth £530 million have been given the go-ahead by Government, which has accepted in full advice on priorities from the South East England Regional Transport Board.

The improvements, funded through the regional budget , are planned for the period 2011-2016. The 16 transport projects will help deliver the South East Plan and the Regional Economic Strategy. Government has welcomed the region's strategic approach to planning for key transport needs.

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chairman of the Transport Board and a member of the South East England Regional Assembly, said:

"This is a success for the Board and I am delighted that the region has secured funding for vital transport projects. The Assembly has worked with councils and partners across the region on setting transport priorities and it has paid off. Partnership working is the way forward to deliver the South East Plan and key infrastructure."

Priorities

Examples of 2011-16 priorities include:

• New platforms at Reading Station that will allow more passenger and freight trains to use an overcrowded rail route
• New Brighton and Hove rapid bus service to support economic development
• Improving access to Oxford through bus priority measures on the A34, rail improvements between Didcot and Bicester and improvements on the A34/A44
• Ashford - Dedicated bus services ('Smartlink') linking the town centre, the international train station, Park and Ride sites and business estates
  - Improving access to Southampton including bus priority measures on the A3024
• New coach and bus services for Reading, Slough and Basingstoke area, including a Park and Ride in High Wycombe area
• High quality bus service ('Coastal Expressway') for coastal towns in West Sussex and links into Brighton and Hove
• A27 Chichester Bypass - Improvements to the existing Bypass to help reduce congestion eg junction improvements, speed restrictions and enhancements to local public transport to support regeneration and employment sites.

Next steps

The Board will work with councils and the Highways Agency on finalising the detail of transport projects for Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The South East England Regional Transport Board is a partnership board advising Government on the region's transport priorities.
   
   
2. Cllr Nick Skellett - South East England Regional Assembly member and Surrey County Council Leader chairs the Board. There are a further five members on the Board alongside representatives from SEEDA, Government Office for the South East, South East Forum for Sustainability, Highways Agency, Confederation of Passenger Transport and Network Rail.

The South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 112 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
3. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

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