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• BRF now calls fgr more road spendin

17th July 1982, Page 4
17th July 1982
Page 4
Page 4, 17th July 1982 — • BRF now calls fgr more road spendin
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THE PROLONGED rail strike has prompted the British Road Federation to change its view on spending more money on road maintenance. It now wants the Government to use the suspended rail grants to speed up motorway maintenance.

Whereas BRF had said earlier in the dispute between British Rail and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, that it was more concerned about the underspending of existing roads budgets (CM July 10), its director, Kenneth Cannell, said last week that the money should be spent on roads.

"The rail strikes this month and in January and February have led to a massive switch of passengers and freight to roads which already are starved of cash. This is an opportunity to switch funds in a way that will bring benefit to everyone," he said.

The under-used subsidy would allow extra road maintenance in the areas hit worst by the rail strike action, or the speeding up of reconstruction of the country's older motorways, he argued.

And he went on to question the need for further investment in BR, saying: "Good roads are by far the most efficient and economical method of transporting most goods and people. The vast majority of all passenger and freight movements are by road, and their importance cannot be overstated."

Government rules dictate that the £15m a week subsidy to BR should be returned to the Treasury, rather than be used for specific Department of Transport projects. It is up to the DTp to bid for more money if, for instance, it wants to carry out an accelerated motorway programme.


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