RHA encouraged by emphasis on infrastructure
The Road Haulage Association is pleased that despite all the dire warning that the roads budget would face severe cuts in the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review, common sense has prevailed and a number of major improvement proposals are to go ahead as planned.
Mr Osborne said that Transport capital spending had been “relatively protected”. The DfT will invest more than £30 billion in transport projects over the next four years, which is more than was invested during the past four years. £14 billion of that will fund maintenance and investment on our railways.
In Yorkshire and Humber, capacity on the M62 will be expanded; DfT will fund a new suspension bridge over the Mersey at Runcorn; in the East Midlands the M1 and A46 will be improved; in the South West, DfT will fund improvements on the M5 and M4. He also announced a major investment in both London’s and Weymouth’s transport infrastructure in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.
In the East of England, the A11 to Norwich will be upgraded. (There was no mention of the A14.) Around London, we will widen the M25 between ten different junctions and the upgrade of the A3 at Hindhead will be completed.
Further details will be announced by transport secretary Philip Hammond next week including, the RHA hopes, details of the DfT’s funding of enforcement activities; an area that the Association will be following with keen interest.
There will be concerns, however, over the impact on road maintenance of the slashing of local authority budgets – by 7.1% a year for the next four years – and massive devolution of financial control. Road users may have to fight for every pothole repair. A key issue will be how Hammond can ensure that roads do not deteriorate to the extent that we have to pay much higher maintenance costs later – which he has already told the transport select committee must not happen.
“We are delighted that our repeated requests that outstanding transport plans be completed rather than ‘mothballed’ have been heeded”, said RHA spokesperson, Kate Gibbs. “When times are hard, road improvements are usually, quite literally, the first to fall buy the wayside. We are therefore pleased that Mr Osborne has recognised the vital part an efficient road network plays in the UKs economic recovery and future viability”.
In addition to the above infrastructure improvement plans, the RHA also notes the 50% increase in adult apprenticeships and the potential opportunities for the haulage sector which it will be reviewing.
Road Haulage Association – phone us first
For more details, contact RHA Head of Media Relations, Kate Gibbs on . . .
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 838917
Mob: + 44 (0) 7979 531451
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