SOUTH EAST GROWTH CHALLENGES RAIL

Investment in improved rail services won't keep pace with the region's 20-year growth unless it has a longer timeline, says the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee.

Responding to Government's White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway', the committee calls for longer term funding commitments to allow train operators to plan on the same 20-year timescale as the Assembly. White paper funding only extends to 2014.

Committee Chairman Cllr Moira Gibson said: "Our South East Plan sets out how we will cope with significant growth by 2026. Infrastructure improvements are key, but the rail white paper covers less than half the South East Plan period and offers only incremental change that will not solve current overcrowding, let alone cope with increasing demand.

"Government's rail paper presents a huge missed opportunity to plan seriously for the future and provide a rail service that will both support growing communities and reduce road congestion by providing an attractive alternative to car commuting."

Cllr Gibson added:

"Our evidence base and plans - and those of other regions - are all in the public domain but Government has failed to align its own thinking and investment with the regions' priorities."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway' is available on the Department for Transport website.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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: 10 October 2007