Travellers and businesses across the South East Region will benefit from a programme of transport improvements to tackle congestion, improve safety and invest in public transport, the Government announced today when it responded to regional advice about the transport priorities for the region. In July 2005, the Government asked the Regional Assembly, the Regional Development Agency and other partners for its advice on transport priorities for the £1.522 billion it has provisionally allocated for transport investment in the region up to 2015/16.
The advice submitted from the South East region focussed on the first five years to 2010/11. They are expected to provide further advice to the Government on their priorities to 2015/16 later this year. The Government's response broadly accepts the region's advice and means that the government plans to fund 24 transport schemes in the South East over the period covered in the region's advice.
The improvements includes a scheme to improve accessibility to East Kent - (the East Kent Access Phase 2) given approval for the first time today.
In addition, the programme includes five schemes already underway, sixteen which are approved and currently in development and a further two schemes put forward by the region that the Government will consider for approval in the future once further work has been satisfactorily completed.
Transport Minister Gillian Merron said:"The Government is investing record amounts in transport putting right decades of underinvestment. This money is delivering real improvements but we have been clear - lasting progress will only be made by sustained investment.
By giving regions a long term funding guideline and involving them in the decision making process, we have for the first time given them a bigger say in which transport schemes are delivered locally. Having considered their advice, I'm pleased we have been able to broadly accept it."
Schemes for funding within the next three years (2006/07 to 2008/09).
Schemes Underway:* A3 Integrated Bus Priority Corridor (Hampshire)
* East Kent Access Phase 1C (Kent)
* A4146 Stoke Hammond and Linslade Western Bypass (Buckinghamshire)
* A228 Leybourne to West Malling Corridor Improvement (Kent)
* Copnor Bridge Replacement (Portsmouth)
Approved Schemes Not Yet Underway:* A2 Bean-Cobham Widening - Phase 2 (Highways Agency)
* A2/A282 Dartford Improvement (Highways Agency)
* A27 Southerham-Beddingham Improvement (Highways Agency)
* A3 Hindhead Improvement (Highways Agency)
* M27 J11 to J12 Climbing Lanes (Highways Agency)
* M27 J3 to J4 Widening (Highways Agency)
* A244 Walton Bridge Maintenance (Surrey)
* Undercliff Drive Realignment (Isle of Wight)
* Central Milton Keynes Public Transport Access Improvements (Milton Keynes)
* Ryde Public Transport Interchange (Isle of Wight)
* Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road (Kent)
* M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak (Reading/Wokingham)
* Bexhill to Hastings Link Road (East Sussex)
Indicative list of schemes from 2009/10 to 2015/16
Related Linkswww.gnn.gov.uk
