The London Mayor’s transport budget is about to be slashed by 15-20%, with a resulting rise in London public transport fares at 2% above RPI, predicts the Campaign for Better Transport.

In an analysis of risks from the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review, it predicts many major road projects will be cancelled, including the widening of the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

Several road schemes, including the A14, may be resubmitted as privately funded toll roads, believes CBT.

Campaign director Richard Hebditch said: “The Government’s drive towards localism is at odds with the need for long-term strategic planning of transport, and the need to link transport with planning of new development.”

“The Government’s proposed Local Enterprise Partnerships will not be set up to do this strategic planning and other departments are seeking to undermine it – for example, the Department for Education is trying to get its free schools exempted from all planning requirements. Such approaches will lead to extra traffic and congestion.”

The campaigning group is concerned that without that national perspective the population will be driven to use their cars even more than currently as gaps in the public transport network appear.

It understands that major spending on the creation of high speed rail lines, for instance the new London to Birmingham line, will not take place until the next Parliament. CBT understands that a funding deal has already been struck so that payment for HS2 will come from the sale of the high speed line between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel.

“In this spending review, there will be preparatory costs such as blight payments, parliamentary bill costs, and land purchase,” said
Hebditch.

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