LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN FOR OXFORDSHIRE

Early day motion 940, tabled 2 November 2005 by Tony Baldry (Conservative). Signed by 5 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment in the 10 Year Transport Plan to `expanding rural transport schemes to increase accessibility to bus and community transport services' and recognition that `transport is a very important consideration to many rural and small town/village dwellers, and to most of those who have no access to a car'; notes with concern that, under the Local Transport Plan, funding to Oxfordshire will be cut by 25 per cent. or £10 million in real terms starting in this financial year; further notes that, under the Regional Transport Board, not one project in Oxfordshire has been considered a high enough priority for funding over the next five years, despite serious congestion on the A40 approach to Oxford; further notes that the Rural Bus Challenge Grant has been withdrawn by central government to Oxfordshire, resulting in the Oxford to Bicester bus services, and shortly the Oxford-London Express, being scrapped; further notes that the Government Office of the South East has failed to agree to fund a study into the A34 corridor within Oxfordshire despite growth in Didcot, Wantage/Grove and Bicester, creating additional congestion on the A34 and the rail network; and calls on the Government to reconsider the formula for the Local Transport Plan in light of reduced funding to other initiatives and only to implement cuts over a five year period.

Signatures by party: Conservative 5.