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[August 2000]
Construction products industry gives thumbs up to transport plan
The Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport has been warmly welcomed by the Construction Products Association. Commenting on today's announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Executive , Michael Ankers, said: "Following years of under investment, this transport plan demonstrates the priority the Government is now determined to give to the transport infrastructure of this country,. It recognises that there is no quick-fix to the scale of the problem we face and commits the Government to sustain the significantly higher levels of resources, made available for the next 3 years in Tuesday's Comprehensive Spending Review, for a whole decade.
"The Association has long argued that Governments should be measured by the targets they achieve rather than the money they make available. We particularly welcome, therefore, the targets that have been set, for example:
reducing traffic congestion, eliminating the maintenance backlog on local roads, and increasing public transport usage
We will be monitoring carefully progress that is made towards achieving these targets over the period of the plan.
"The industry is ready to respond to the planned increase in investment. Our main concern, however, is whether it will actually be possible to deliver such a bold programme. In particular, road improvements and other major capital investment have in the past taken years to get off the ground because of the protracted planning procedures. The Government recognises this problem in its strategy, and we await with interest its proposed solutions."
ENDS