Blog ARCHIVE
National Highways creating ‘illusion of progress’, says Transport Action Network
TransportXtra: National Highways is wasting taxpayers’ money on “stunts to create the illusion of progress” by going ahead with preparatory works on road schemes where the business case has not yet been approved, says Transport Action Network (TAN). This work should not taking place while a review is underway of...
Government urged to save money and boost growth by cancelling Conservative road schemes
Government urged to save money and boost growth by cancelling Conservative road schemes Transport Action Network (TAN) today published its submission to the urgent review of the UK Department for Transport’s infrastructure capital spending portfolio, commissioned by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP. The review was launched on 30 July, the...
Rishi Sunak’s claims on £1.5bn A66 are wrong
Rishi Sunak’s claims on £1.5bn A66 are wrong Transport Action Network (TAN) today responded to Rishi Sunak’s lobbying for the £1.5 billion A66 Northern Trans Pennine scheme in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency [1]. The project would dual the remaining sections of single carriageway on this route. Mr Sunak claimed...
Britain has two kinds of buses – but the days of second-class services could be numbered
The Guardian: When the Liverpool City Region mayor, Steve Rotheram, was an MP he had a late-night epiphany. Leaving parliament to head home, he walked past a bus stop. “There were lords and ladies; there were MPs; there were the girls who used to serve us in the tea room,...
National Highways accused of wasting public money ahead of infrastructure review decisions
National Highways accused of wasting public money ahead of infrastructure review decisions Transport Action Network (TAN) has today accused National Highways of wasting public money ahead of a review of road projects by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh [1]. TAN has received reports from communities across England that National Highways is...
I have the ideal road plan for Britain
The Guardian: We all hate roads. They pollute our lungs, destroy our hearing, degrade the environment and are a blight on the countryside. Driving on them can be a fraught experience, and it is a given that living next to a busy road is highly undesirable. Yet somehow, despite all...
Transport appraisal needs to change, Haigh says
Highways Magazine: The Government is rethinking the way that road and other transport schemes are assessed alongside its review of whether existing projects provide value for money, the transport secretary has said.Louise Haigh said: ‘I don't think the way that we assess transport schemes is sufficient at the moment and...
Push for ‘vital’ road improvement to go ahead
BBC: Calls have been made for "vital" plans to improve a key road to go ahead, despite a government review. Cumbrian MPs want to see a £1.3bn scheme to dual the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner to become reality, after it was approved by the previous government in March....
Rail and urban transport report welcomed
Rail and urban transport report welcomed Transport Action Network (TAN) [1] is welcoming the publication yesterday of the Rail and urban transport review, led by Juergen Maier CBE [2]. The review was commissioned by Labour when in opposition, to help the UK deliver the rail and urban transport infrastructure for...
Large road schemes in the Transport Infrastructure Review
On 30 July 2024, the Transport Secretary Louise Haigh announced a Transport Infrastructure Review. This will include all road schemes in National Highways' roads programme, many of which are unaffordable and outdated, trying to solve 20th century problems. The funding would be better used for vital rail freight, public transport...
Filling the holes
Rachel Reeves might have a huge hole in the country’s finances to plug, but road users are rightly concerned about the large number of potholes that need filling. The latest findings from the RAC’s annual survey shows that the majority of drivers are fed up with the state of Britain's...
The road to nowhere
Ecologist: Invest in public transport - and not the Lower Thames Crossing. Campaigners are calling on transport secretary Louise Haigh to scrap the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) – a monstrous £10 billion, 22-kilometre six-lane motorway tunnel – and put the money into public transport. Haigh has to decide whether to...
Lower Thames Crossing Myths and Facts
Myth The planning application for the Lower Thames Crossing is 2,383 documents and 359,000 pages long. Fact This myth originated from a roads lobby group called Britain Remade, but has been repeated - unchecked - by mainstream media, including in the Times, FT, and politicians. We have fact checked these...
Arundel bypass decision is ‘a win for Sussex’
Sussex Express: A Sussex charity has welcomed the decision to cancel the controversial A27 Arundel bypass scheme. CPRE Sussex described yesterday’s announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as a “win for Sussex”. Director Paul Steedman said: “This is a huge win for Sussex and all those who have...
Pause on unaffordable road schemes welcomed
Pause on unaffordable road schemes welcomed Transport Action Network (TAN) [1] is welcoming the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves’ likely announcement this afternoon to pause a number of large road schemes due to a lack of funding [2]. Reeves is quite correct to seize control of spending on unaffordable major road projects...
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