Transport Campaign

The Chamber of Commerce will be running an integrated campaign over the coming year. This campaign is to press for a 30-year national framework, backed up by increased investment and an increased priority in next year’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

We need a national integrated, sustainable transport system, which delivers real choice across different modes of transport and that meets the needs of business. This must be driven by a 30-year national framework, controlled by a national strategic transport authority and backed up by short-term deliverables along the way. National strategic network of roads, rail, ports and airports should be backed up by strong regional and local decision-making. Improving the ‘last five mile’ links to key ports and airports are a vital part of this.

The national framework must be backed by a real and sustained commitment to increase Government expenditure in a formula linked to GDP and GDP growth. There should be a commitment to increasing the percentage of GDP spent on transport infrastructure to a level similar to that of comparable successful world economies. Over the past 25 years, the UK has invested around 30 per cent less than its main European competitors. Because of the long lead times, funding allocations should extend beyond Treasury controlled 2-3 year spending cycles.

There is a need to identify where the most appropriate decision making point is in transport planning. For any individual decision, the key test should relate to competitiveness. We need to redefine how projects of national strategic importance are defined so that key schemes do not fall by the wayside. We need value for money projects and market driven transport decisions, with an emphasis on domestic economic growth.