Region responds to South West Select Committee Report on Transport

PRESS NOTICE - Strategic Leaders' Board - South West RDA

The Strategic Leaders’ Board, representing local authorities, and the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) are the bodies responsible for giving advice to Government on South West issues, they have a joint board which deals with transport matters.

The regional bodies advise Government on priorities for spending £95m per year on major transport schemes in the South West. Today they have responded to the South West Regional Select Committee’s Transport in the South West report, which has now been published (Friday 26 February 2010).

Nick Bye, Joint Chair of the region’s Transport and Infrastructure Board, said:

“I welcome the interest the Select Committee has shown in this crucial issue for the region. I am also glad MPs have recognised the valuable role the Transport and Infrastructure Board is already playing. The Board includes stakeholders and specialist agencies in addition to politicians. Our meetings are held in public and we continue to look at ways of improving public and stakeholder engagement with our work.”

Responding to the publication of the Report, Nick Bye added:

“The Select Committee has made many useful points in their report about future transport needs, however it does not fully recognise the important role public transport already plays in the programme of major schemes we submitted to Government.

We are also concerned that the challenges posed by historic under investment in infrastructure in a growing and successful region needs greater recognition.

Planning major schemes is a costly and challenging process which can take over 5 years. Large transport schemes cannot be switched on overnight and we are pleased the Committee has recognised some of the capacity issues local authorities and regional bodies face.”

Ian Piper South West RDA’s Director of Development & Regeneration, said:
 
"The Report recognises that investment in adequate transport infrastructure is key to future regional prosperity. In particular, the Committee's support for electrification of the Great Western Main Line, improved access to Heathrow and more consideration of a Second Strategic Route to help regional resilience is helpful. Better connectivity between the region and the rest of the UK and beyond is needed to improve the South West's competitiveness. 
 
"We agree with the Committee's view that the region has to deliver more sustainable transport schemes more effectively. However, the level of funding available for transport projects and the willingness of Government to approve measures put forward by the South West will be critical factors in determining our ability to achieve this."

The Transport and Infrastructure Board is jointly chaired by South West RDA board member Nick Buckland.

ENDS

Notes to Editors: 

Members and papers for the Transport and Infrastructure Board can be accessed here

Select Committee Membership is as follows: Alison Seabeck MP for Plymouth Devonport (Chairman), Mr David Drew MP for Stroud, Roger Berry MP for Kingswood, Dr Doug Naysmith MP for Bristol North West and Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East.

To download a copy of the South West Regional Select Committee’s Transport in the South West click on the link below. 

For further comment please contact either:

SW Councils / Strategic Leaders' Board
Drew Aspinwall 01823 425265 / 07841 214687
www.swcouncils.gov.uk 

South West RDA
Billy McKenna 
01392 229567 / 07918 690 228
www.southwestrda.org.uk 

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