Local Transport Capital Settlement for 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11

Written statement to Parliament by Minister of State for Transport Rosie Winterton: Today I am announcing the distribution of a package of funding of more than £4 billion to improve local transport outside London over the remaining three years of the Local Transport Plan period.   An indicative announcement of half of this funding package was made last year.  This announcement confirms that funding is available now the Comprehensive Spending Review has been completed.

It builds on the £8.5 billion provided to the 122 local transport authorities, including the six Passenger Transport Authorities, over the last seven years for small local transport improvements and capital highways maintenance. These improvements tackle pinch points, improve integration and provide genuine alternatives to the car.

The £4.036bn package consists of £1.768bn for integrated transport improvements and £2.268bn for highways capital maintenance.

This capital funding is in addition to the £2.3 billion made available in Regional Funding Allocations for local authority major schemes and Highways Agency schemes of regional significance over the next three years.

Local Transport Plans have now been implemented for more than six years. Local transport authorities can be proud of the way they are creating safer, cleaner environments. They have made great progress in reducing local road casualties, improving the condition of many local road networks, providing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and integrating of transport planning alongside that of health, education and housing.

Alongside this year's settlement we have also confirmed financial planning guidelines (announced last year) for a specific road safety grant set up as part of the move to integrate safety cameras into the wider road safety delivery process from 1 April 2007.  The funding totals £330m over three years - ie £110m per year.  £286m of this is being distributed to local authorities outside London.  The remaining £44m is for London and national agencies.  This funding represents a long term commitment to fund further improvements in road safety and provides local authorities and their partners with the flexibility to implement a locally agreed mix of road safety measures that will deliver the greatest reductions in road casualties in their area.  

Details of the 2008/09 to 2010/11 allocations have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and are also available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/capital/ltpsettle07/

 

Delivered: 27 November 2007