RHA: roads spending plans are ‘missed opportunity’
Industry trade associations have responded to the Department for Transport’s publication of its third road investment strategy (RIS3), which will see £24.9 billion allocated to fund improvements to motorways and trunk roads in England from next year till 2031.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has warned that the figure represents a 10 per cent reduction in allocated funding as compared to the figure for the previous five-year period (RIS2), which it says is likely to impede government plans for economic growth.
“This is a real missed opportunity, and we will still continue to make the case to ministers that ambitious investment in new roads can drive growth, particularly at a time when the economy is stalling and the costs of living and doing business are so high,” said RHA managing director Richard Smith.
“This lack of prioritising new roads investment will have long-term impacts on haulage, coach and van businesses, with congestion costing the UK economy more than £30bn a year in delays and lost productivity.
“We’re clear that new roads are a vital enabler to boost business and better connect communities – indeed the government’s ambitious housebuilding programme to deliver 1.5m new homes by 2029 will rely on a fit-for-purpose national infrastructure.”
However, he said the association was pleased that some prominent new road schemes had been greenlit earlier in the year, following RHA campaigning – namely the Lower Thames Crossing, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme, the A46 Bypass at Newark and the M60 Simister Island.
“We await specific plans detailed through National Highways’ Strategic Delivery Plan later in the year, and note that DfT will ringfence aspects of RIS3 for ‘Designated Funds’ schemes which have been a vital source for improving truck stops,” he concluded.
Meanwhile Logistics UK welcomed the investment package, and said the focus must now switch to delivery.
“The current poor road conditions act as a ‘tax on business’ and our members will be encouraged that the Road Investment Strategy addresses network reliability through a focus on proactive asset management and preventative maintenance,” said Jonathan Walker, head of infrastructure and planning policy at Logistics UK.
“It is estimated that every £1 invested in the strategic road network returns over £2 to society so the business case for investment is clear.”
He continued: “Logistics UK is also pleased to see network performance on key freight routes will be prioritised, and there are explicit commitments to meet the needs of the freight and logistics sector through areas such as alleviating weight and height restrictions and improving driver facilities – something Logistics UK has been campaigning for for several years.
“The emphasis must now be on delivery and ensuring that National Highways is sustainably funded to leave the SRN in a better condition at the end of the RIS3 period in 2031 than it is today.”
