Autumn Statement: Hi-Vis Chancellor forgets about everyday transport in Spending Review – Campaign for Better Transport

Reacting to today’s Spending Review, Campaign for Better Transport warns that cuts to everyday transport will bite ever harder while money is wasted on damaging road building, but welcomes the Chancellor’s commitment to continued rail investment and smart ticketing.

Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The Chancellor’s focus remains squarely on ever more infrastructure, often at the expense of vital everyday transport. While Mr Osborne dons his hi-vis jacket and hard hat at big construction projects, bus services continue to be lost and high impact investment in walking and cycling is scaled back.

The Chancellor’s claim that ‘We are the builders’ will be meaningless for people finding it harder to get to work, school and town centres because their cash-strapped local authority can’t support a bus service.”

Stephen Joseph continued: “It’s great that the Government has allocated funding to develop smart ticketing in the North of England, but this is needed all over the country. The lack of real roll out of flexible ticketing for part time workers nationwide is also a disappointment despite assurances that schemes will be included in future rail franchises.”