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Councils chase E1 bn
Page 12
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WEST MIDLANDS councils are demanding to know what has happened to £.1 bn of transport investment promised by the Government two years ago.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling pledged the money to help sort out worsening traffic congestion in the region. But the seven councils that make up the regional conurbation are warning that because the funding has not been forthcoming some schemes may have to he abandoned.
Their regional local transport plan, published in July, says there won't be enough road space to cope with the extra 165m car trips forecast for the region by 2011.
Pete Fitch, transport spokesman for the councils, says: "Congestion in the West Midlands doesn't only affect local people and local businesses.The region is at the heart of the national road and rail networks and holds the key to an effective national transport system, fit for the 21st century. We would like some assurance from the Government that we're going to have the means to tackle these issues."
But a spokeswoman for the Department forTransport says the £1 bn announced by Darling was always conditional on the region drawing up -realistic proposals".