Multi-million pound transport investment
Millions of pounds are to be invested by the Government in improving transport in Warwickshire.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander yesterday announced that thanks to Warwickshire’s `Good’ performance in delivering local transport improvements, an extra three per cent of funding will be available for integrated transport schemes in 2007/2008 (£4.852m).
In addition Warwickshire will receive £8.784m for maintenance during 2007/2008, taking the total investment in transport to £13.636m.
Overall Warwickshire’s second local transport plan has been assessed by the Government as `Good’ from a classification of weak, fair, good or excellent. The delivery of transport during the first local transport plan period (2000-2005) in Warwickshire was described as `Very Good’.
The report states: “Areas of strength in Warwickshire include road safety, public transport and partnership working. In particular Warwickshire has made excellent progress in reducing road casualties and promoting road safety.
“Partnerships such as `Safe Together’ and the ‘Warwickshire Casualty Reduction Partnership’, combined with local and school safety schemes and campaigns, have resulted in a 43 per cent reduction in the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.
“Warwickshire has also been successful in improving bus services. Bus patronage figures have increased since 2004/2005 and in partnership with bus operators the county council has successfully introduced Quality Bus Corridors and Quality Bus Initiative Schemes. This has been reflected in increasing customer satisfaction with buses.”
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “I’m delighted to see such a favourable report and allocation for Warwickshire. We have been working hard to improve transport and in particular to develop our integrated transport schemes.
“Just one example of this is how Warwickshire has bucked the national trend is with our bus network, with improved public satisfaction and usage, while much of the rest of the country continues to see bus patronage falling.”
The investment announced yesterday is part of the Local Transport Capital Settlement, given to local authorities each year to help them deliver transport improvements in their communities.