Support For Investment In Infrastructure And Transport
2nd November, 2010
THE Institution of Civil Engineers South West has welcomed two major government announcements aimed at growing the UK economy through investment in infrastructure and transport networks.
The coalition has announced the first-ever National Infrastructure Plan, which will look at investment in energy, transport, digital communications, floodwater, waste management and science networks and systems over the coming years.
Trish Johnson, ICE South West Regional Director, said: “We welcome this more strategic view of how much investment is needed across all infrastructure sectors in the coming years. Resilient infrastructure is essential in kick starting economic recovery in our region, driving the low carbon agenda and ensuring we have energy security - particularly here in the South West where we import more energy than we create.”
The government also released details of a further 16 transport projects which have been given the green light across the UK. This follows on from last week’s Comprehensive Spending Review, where a number of transport schemes were confirmed.
Improvements to M5 J29 east of Exeter - providing access to the new village at Cranbrook - and a new road in Taunton to provide additional cross-town capacity and access to areas of brownfield land have both been confirmed in the South West.
Mrs Johnson added: “We are pleased to learn more details about transport projects which can proceed. We depend heavily on robust transport networks to ensure connectivity with the rest of the country and within our region.”
The transport secretary also announced a pot of more than £600m for further local authority projects. Councils will be able to bid for this funding over the next few months.
And transport officials will conduct more analysis on a number of smaller schemes across the region to determine how they can be brought forward. These include the Kingskerswell By-pass in Devon and the Isles of Scilly Link.
ENDS
