Investment


in
rail
and
road
schemes
announced
in
last
month’s
spending
review
has
been
confirmed
by
the
Department
for
Transport,
but
one
transport
campaigning
group
has
criticised
the
proportion
to
be
spent
on
new
roads.

The
rail
schemes
are
three
reopened
stations,
the
reinstatement
of
the
line
between
Bristol
and
Portishead,
and ‘significant
government
funding’
for
the
Midlands
Rail
Hub,
which
will
mean
more
trains
on
more
routes.

The
additional
stations
will
be
at
Wellington
in
Somerset,
Cullompton
in
Devon
and
Haxby
in
North
Yorkshire.

Transport
secretary
Heidi
Alexander
said: ‘Transport
is
the
backbone
of
our
economy,
which
is
why
we
are
giving
them
the
record
funding
boost
they
need,
putting
taxpayers’
money
where
it
matters
most
and
making
everyday
journeys
easier.

‘With
over
£92
billion
investment,
including
the
biggest
ever
boost
for
city
regions
in
the
north
and
Midlands,
we’re
delivering
the
schemes
that
fast-track
economic
growth
and
jobs,
connect
communities,
and
will
help
us
build
1.5
million
new
homes,
as
we
deliver
our
Plan
for
Change.

‘We’re
forging
ahead
with
the
vital
new
transport
infrastructure
Britain
needs,
and
improving
what
we’ve
already
got,
to
deliver
a
new
era
of
renewal
and
opportunity.’

However,
the
Campaign
for
Better
Transport’s
chief
executive
Ben
Plowden
said: ‘We’re
pleased
to
see
a
number
of
important
rail
projects
being
given
the
green
light
today.
In
particular,
we’re
glad
to
see
the
Bristol
to
Portishead
line
finally
getting
the
go
ahead.
This
line
was
one
of
the
projects
under
the
Government’s
hastily
cancelled
Restoring
Your
Railway
Fund
–
also
responsible
for
the
successful
Northumberland
Line
reopening
–
which
we
have
urged
the
Government
to
reinstate
to
ensure
other
key
reopening
projects
can
also
move
forward.

‘We
are
however
disappointed
that
many
more
road
schemes
are
being
given
the
go
ahead
today.
The
best
way
to
ease
congestion,
cut
journey
times
and
bring
greater
access
to
jobs
and
opportunities
across
the
country
is
not
by
building
more
roads.
It
is
by
prioritising
public
transport
and
reducing
future
car
dependency
by
putting
new
housing
in
the
right
place
where
it
can
be
connected
to
public
transport,
walking
and
cycling
networks
from
day
one.’

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you
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