Blog ARCHIVE

UK fuel duty cut is regressive policy that benefits the wealthy, study finds

The Guardian:   The SMF has suggested more equitable and green ways to cut motoring costs, which would be investing in public transport, that “provide cheaper alternatives to driving for those who want to switch and decreases congestion for those who don’t”. The analysis found that for every 10% increase...
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Can Local Transport Plans get Britain moving?

Low Traffic Future is an alliance set up by Transport Action Network in 2022. It aims to promote the benefits of less motor traffic. In this post, Edward Lamb shares what the alliance achieved in 2023 and how you can get involved.   Well, 2023 was an exciting year for...
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National Highways’ dirty laundry to be aired in public

National Highways' dirty laundry to be aired in public The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the Cabinet Office to publish Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) reviews [1] of the £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing [2]. This is one of National Highways’ flagship schemes and its largest road project ever. The...
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National Highways investigated over decline in performance

The Construction Index: The Office of Rail & Road (ORR) has opened an investigation into the performance of National Highways amid concerns about its management of the motorway and trunk road network. The industry regulator says that it has usually managed to work with National Highways to resolve any issues...
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Investigation into National Highways is long overdue

Investigation into National Highways is long overdue Reacting to the Office for Rail and Road's announcement yesterday of an investigation into National Highways [1], Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network (TAN) said: "Putting National Highways into special measures is long overdue. Whether concerning safety or biodiversity, it is clear...
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Welsh roads review: one year on

Is the love still there? So here we are, St Valentine's day, 2024, a year to the day on which the Deputy Minister for Climate Change reshaped the future of road building in Wales. When he published the roads review and delivery plan, Lee Waters made three things clear: There...
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Claims government blocked low-traffic schemes were a fiction, papers suggest

The Guardian: Exclusive: Low-traffic neighbourhood applications were rejected due to lack of ambition, not policy shift Government claims that it blocked councils from installing low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) appear to have been a fiction, the Guardian has learned, in another apparent sign that Rishi Sunak’s “plan for drivers” is thus far...
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Healthy Travel Choices Give Children More Freedom

This blog is part of our healthy travel choices series. Previously, we looked at road safety. Here, we are focusing on how it would give children more freedom. Having healthy travel options gives people more choice as to how they travel. These options do not mean being forced to travel...
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How cars and road infrastructure became part of the UK’s culture wars

The Conversation: Transport provision is failing. For many people across the UK – particularly outside of London – car travel is not simply the preferred means of mobility: it is their only viable option. In my recent book, The Broken Promise of Infrastructure, I show that belief in these conspiracy...
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UK roads being built without ministerial oversight, say environment campaigners

The Guardian: Government-funded road schemes worth up to £500m are being built without ministerial oversight and most likely based on outdated emissions targets, according to freedom of information requests obtained by environmental campaigners. National Highways is the body that oversees road building in England, and it is being allowed “to...
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Sir David King and Chris Packham support roads climate legal challenge in Court of Appeal

Sir David King and Chris Packham support roads climate legal challenge in Court of Appeal Photo opportunity - Tuesday 16 January at 1pm at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, WC2A 2LL An important climate legal challenge against three major road schemes will be heard in the Court of Appeal...
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Decisions on road controversies set to be made in next few weeks

TransportXtra: The beginning of 2024 is set to crystallise a number of high profile and controversial issues relating to major national road projects and the general policy approach to scheme justification and expenditure. Legal actions are underway in two cases that could define broader policy with Dr Andrew Boswell taking...
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Ministers prioritised driving in England partly due to conspiracy theories

The Guardian: Ministers decided to prioritise driving over active travel because of worries among ministers about “15-minute cities”, documents seen by the Guardian show. They indicate that a significant shift in transport policy was guided at least in part by conspiracy theories. Ministers began considering curbs on cycling and walking...
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What to expect from 2024

2023 was a bit of a rollercoaster with transport decisions often making the headlines. Sadly, forward thinking decisions were far and few between. The £2 bus fare cap stands out as one of very few highs. Instead depressing decisions and unannounced u-turns were delivered regularly throughout the year. So much...
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2023 Transport review – Part 3

Autumn of 2023 In this final part of our review of the year, we focus on the final months of 2023. Read part one of our review here and part two here. Part 3: September to December 2023 September 2023 A default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads was introduced...
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