Sanctions against council TSG plans
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PUNISHMENT is on the cards for local authorities which do not devise properly balanced transport policies, said Transport Minister William Rodgers when he announced the 1979/ 80 Transport Supplementary. Grant last week.
Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire County Councils have been penalised for failing to offer sufficient support to public transport, while South Yorkshire's refusal to increase bus fares has been matched by a negligible Government allowance for road improvements.
Oxfordshire has been accused by Mr Rodgers of "showing no sign of taking its transport responsibilities seriously", and has only had six per cent of its road improvement plans authorised.
It has been forced to make do with £100,000 of total TSG at November 1977 prices.
But, Dorset is being looked upon with great favour by the Government, and has had its entire £2.24m TSG claim for public transport and new road expenditure approved by the Government.
Mr Rodgers also complained about Greater London Council plans to reduce London Transport revenue support from £58m to E28m by 1980/81.
In response, GLC transport supremo Shelagh Roberts says Mr Rodgers "has a cheek criticising this policy", when he refused to sanction the building of the Thames railway tunnel and Jubilee underground extension to Docklands.