MAJOR GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE KENT’S ROADS & TRANSPORT NETWORK

Passengers, drivers and businesses across Kent are set to benefit from an £122 million investment in local transport over the next 3 years. The announcement is made by Government Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton on Tuesday.

The funding is part of the Local Transport Capital Settlement given to local authorities to help them deliver vital improvements, including new road safety measures, better street lighting, road maintenance, park and ride facilities and cycle lanes.

To give local authorities greater certainty in planning for the coming years this settlement provides year on year increases for a 3 year period to 2010/2011, unlike previous years where funding was allocated annually.

Labour’s Shadow Spokesman on the Kent County Council, Roger Truelove, said:

“This £122 million can make a massive impact on our businesses and on our quality of life, particularly reducing congestion, improving road safety and hopefully giving our County Council a real opportunity to tackle the environment.

“One particular cause for approval is the 9% increase in integrated transport budget for 2008/09 which will increase to 2011 by 40%.

“Some of the funding is Capital Grant and some of it is supported borrowing. It is vital that the administration at KCC takes full opportunity to use both these funding streams. We either use it or lose it and we do not want to see the people of Kent losing out on this excellent funding from the Government.”