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Local
Transport Plans that Work, Report of Fringe Meeting, Labour Spring
Conference, Manchester, 13/3/04 -
download.
The topic of Local Transport Plans (LTPs) was suggested to LFIG as a
matter on which independent, informed and politically sympathetic advice
would be welcome. The LFIG Transport Study Group took the view that a good
way of pursuing this would be to hold a fringe meeting at the Labour
Spring conference, inviting speakers with relevant expertise and
experience and responding to issues raised by conference delegates.
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PLP Transport Committee and Labour Finance & Industry Group
Submission to Partnership in Power Document on Transport
- ‘Towards a new Labour Transport Strategy'
The work of the LFIG Transport Study Group on further development of
Labour's Transport Strategy has recently been endorsed by the PLP Transport
Group, in the form of a joint submission to the National Policy Forum. This
joint paper builds on Alastair Darling's recent statement about road user
charges, placing this in the context of a radical approach to integration
and devolution. Our shared object is to highlight transport's can
contribution to tackling regional economic disparities and supporting urban
regeneration, as well as dealing directly with transport problems.
To download (in Word format), please
click here
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The Work of the Transport Study Group.
The Transport Group was set up about ten years ago, and includes
some of the country's leading transport professionals.
Aiming to provide expert information and analysis as a basis for
Labour policy making, the Group has produced some 30-40 papers and
briefings over the last decade. In
co-operation with the LFIG City Group, the TG played a major part in
helping to develop the concept of Public/Private Partnerships - a role
which has been generously and publicly acknowledged by John Prescott.
In
recent years, we have inter alia given evidence to the House of Commons
DETR Transport Select Sub-Committee on the proposed Strategic Railway
Authority. As part of our
rail work, we have also been contributing to the Railway Regulator’s
consultations on such technical subjects as track access charges.
Our
growing professional reputation has been reflected in invitations to
address prominent foreign organisations.
For example, our meeting with the Swiss Railways (SBB) – one of
the world’s leading exponents of transport integration - was attended by
the entire SBB senior management, including their President.
Since then, we have kept up a regular dialogue with Swiss
operators, including the Zurich urban undertaking (VBZ), and recently
revisited the SBB at their invitation.
Unfortunately, limited time and resources make it difficult to
accept other foreign invitations. All
this time, our network of contacts in Britain has gradually been
extending, and we now have good relations with a number of experts and
organisations concerned with transport policy.
During Neil Kinnock's tenure as Transport Commissioner at the
European Union, there was also frequent dialogue with him and his staff on
such subjects as airport “slots” and airline alliances.
Anyone wishing to JOIN this Study Group, please
contact the Administrator, Jennifer
Muller.
