Urgent road building plans in budget axe
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
. Planned spending of £6.3bn on desperately needed new roads is at risk now that ministers have been told to expect cuts of El6bn to comply with the public spending ceiling of E245bn.
The Department of Transport says it is too early to speculate on the Chancellor's autumn statement, when spending will be revealed based on bids from each government department. But it accepts that some projects could be axed.
The Freight Transport Association says it would be "very disappointed" if road building was cut: "Roads are an investment in the future — we will not always be in a recession," it says. "When we come out of it we will need good roads to move goods efficiently."
The British Road Federation says the road budget is the "last place" money should be cut from because it is so important to the economy. BRF director Richard Diment says planned spending represents little real increase since 1990. Hauliers depending on construction work will suffer if projects are abandoned.