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Press Release

MPs call for new transport priorities in South West

26 February 2010

In a report published today, the South West Regional Committee warns that the region's priorities for major transport schemes were 'insufficiently objective and transparent'. It calls for the regional spending 'process be opened up to greater public scrutiny'.

Earlier this week officers of the South West Councils warned that many of the region's major schemes were particularly at risk due to pressure on public finances. This means large, controversial schemes like Devon's A380 South Devon Link Road (Kingkerswell Bypass) and the South Bristol Link Road could face the axe if transport budgets are cut by the 20-30% envisaged.

Responding to the MPs' report, Cate Le Grice Mack, on behalf the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) South West, said:

"With looming spending cuts meaning some big transport projects will have to face the axe, the call by local MPs to let the public have their say has not come a moment too soon.

"We are delighted the South West Committee shares our view that transport spending should focus now on giving people choice on how they travel. Spending on public transport, walking and cycling as opposed to large road schemes, will not only widen choice but it will also help reduce carbon emissions."

CPRE South West gave written and oral evidence to the Committee and was influential in many of its recommendations.

Le Grice Mack continued:

"The Committee has endorsed our belief that local authorities could make better use of their powers to improve rural bus provision (R 45). We particularly welcome the emphasis on better information and ticketing to encourage public transport use, (R 25, 51). However, it is disappointing that better understanding of the exceptionally high costs of bus use, which all too often is well over £1 per mile, has not been highlighted."



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