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Effective transport planning needed say ICE

The public and private sectors must join forces to ensure that future transport funding is used effectively to support the economic recovery.

This is what the Institution of Civil Engineers North East (ICE) said in its report entitled “Growing It Alone: Supporting Economic Recovery through Transport Infrastructure”.

The report calls for “a clear consensus between public and private sectors”, and identified a number of priorities for investment beyond 2015.

According to Stephen Larkin, Director of ICE North East, the infrastructure debate must happen now, as decisions will have to be taken within the next two years.

He commented: The North East must speak with a clear, unified voice on a national level to get the best from transport policy and put the infrastructure in place for the benefit of the regional economy.

“This report highlights the need for the region to show the courage to prioritise and the conviction to deliver what is needed. ICE North East wants to be a part of that debate and has the expertise to make a real contribution, but we need the rest of the region to join the discussion and work toward highlighting these priorities and giving this region the strong voice it needs to be heard in the clamour for funding.”

The report also calls on the regions LEPs to play a key role in prioritising investment, as well as coordinating local transport bodies to which the Department for Transport is seeking to devolve transport funding.

Mr Larkin added: “ICE North East believes that the LEPs and/or the local transport bodies should seek clear, independent advice on the outcomes of investment options as well as an understanding of some of the delivery issues that have affected schemes in the past.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .