KHOODEELAAR! No to "Crossrail hole scam" CAMPAIGN TOLD YORKSHIRE POST SO, for years.......

KHOODEELAAR! No to "Crossrail hole scam" CAMPAIGN TOLD YORKSHIRE POST SO, for years.......




http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/MPs-raise-pressure-for-fair.5562454.jp




MPs raise pressure for fair deal on transport



MPs raise pressure for fair deal on transport.

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Published Date:
18 August 2009
By Jonathan Reed Political Editor
MINISTERS are under pressure to finally give Yorkshire a fair deal on transport after a committee of MPs backed claims the region is getting a raw deal.
The MPs' verdict that there is "no case" for the widening gap in funding between London and the English regions undermines the Government's refusal to listen to pleas for more cash.

Businesses have welcomed the findings of the Transport Select Committee and have now called for a full Commons inquiry into the impact of the funding gap.

Yorkshire and Humber Chambers of Commerce president Richard Wightman said: "The Government has already dropped their commitment to motorway widening in our region; the plans for improving the East Coast main line are inadequate; key projects have been in the drawing board for far too long; and Yorkshire is behind in the race for high-speed rail.

"We don't begrudge London getting the funding it needs for transport schemes. The issue is that Yorkshire and Humber needs a fair deal as well, and this is a key test of the Government's stated commitment to growing the economies of the North."

The Yorkshire Post's Road to Ruin campaign – backed by businesses, MPs and commuters – has called for a better deal for the region, which is near the bottom of the pile when it comes to funding for transport infrastructure.

According to analysis of Treasury figures, transport spending in Yorkshire and Humber fell by 11 per cent in 2007-08, compared to an increase across England of two per cent. Spending per head on transport in the region dropped from £238 in 2006-07 to £213 in 2007-08, while in London it rose from £642 to £783.

Campaigners are frustrated at seeing billions poured into schemes in the capital, such as Crossrail, while projects in this region are cut, leaving commuters to face clogged up roads and overcrowded trains.

Although they understand London will always attract higher spending, they are angry that the gap has widened. MPs have repeatedly raised concerns with ministers, and businesses have also been lobbying for a fairer deal, but to no avail. However, now the Labour-led committee has backed their fight.

"Whilst it is clear that the capital city will continue to enjoy the highest levels of transport investment, the case for investment in other regions is also important," said the committee. "We have heard no case put forward by the Government as to why the gap between investment in London and the English regions is increasing.

"The Government should attempt to reduce rather than increase this disparity."

Mr Wightman has now written to committee chairman Louise Ellman calling for a wider inquiry into the impact of the funding gap.

He acknowledged that a strong London was good for business in the region but said: "A fairer share across the regions would help to rebalance the UK economy and help regions such as Yorkshire and Humber become more economically independent.

"Yorkshire and Humber gets a particularly poor deal from the Treasury. We believe this holds back important transport projects which our region needs such as Leeds super-tram or its alternative scheme; the link road to the new Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport; and the improvements to the A63 Castle Street to the port of Hull and A160 to Immingham."