The UK’s civil engineering contractors today called on the Government to rethink its decision to take the axe to a number of roads schemes in yesterday’s Budget.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves yesterday unveiled a Budget that trumpeted a commitment to investment for growth while at the same time confirming that her Government has decided not to progress with a number of roads schemes – namely the A5036 Princess Way, A358 Taunton to Southfields, M27 J8 Southampton, the A47 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall Roundabout and A1 Morpeth to Ellingham.
Commenting, Director of Operations for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Marie-Claude Hemming said: “Yesterday’s Budget contained an admirable commitment to delivering economic growth through infrastructure delivery, and we were clear that industry both fully supports this agenda and stands ready to deliver on the Government’s plans.
“At the same time the Government has said it will axe a number of schemes on the strategic road network, arguing that there ‘is not a clear value for money case to invest.’
“Investment in infrastructure has a significant multiplier effect in terms of creating jobs during construction, boosting productivity on delivery, and delivering Gross Value Added returns for road users, the supply chain, and ultimately, the taxpayer.
“The Government has said that the next Roads Investment Strategy will be published in Spring 2005 alongside the next Spending Review.
“CECA is strongly supportive of the Government’s mission to deliver a high-growth economy but cancelling schemes is counter-productive to this aim, as ultimately they will have to be delivered to meet demand, and inevitably this will mean they will have to be delivered at a higher cost in the future.
“We call on Government to re-examine the business case for each of these schemes, and to work with industry to examine how they can be delivered over the course of this Parliament on a value-for-money basis in each instance.”
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CECA PRESS RELEASE – Resurrect Roads Schemes For Growth – Immed 31 October 2024