Abolish Highways Agency for economic boost
Author: Thomas Bridge, localgov.co.uk |
Greater local authority freedom over the road network would boost economic growth and give 2.5 times the return on current transport investment, council leaders have said.
A Localis report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) has recommended the Government abolish the Highways Agency and grant sub-regional bodies power over road projects to boost financial returns on investment.
Launched at an LGA Town Hall Summit, The Road to Growth calls on chancellor George Osborne to amalgamate existing transport funding streams into a single pot for council applications.
Over a quarter of locally led transport and infrastructure schemes provide a return of 5 for every 1 spent, an improvement on the 2:1 return ratio offered by current transport investment business cases, the report finds.
Chair of the LGA’s economy and transport board, Cllr Peter Box, said: ‘At the moment, investment and innovation is being stifled by a burdensome top-down approach by the Department of Transport and Highways Agency and a confusing and wasteful myriad of different funding.
‘Local authorities are already showing they can get far more bang for their buck with transport spending. They’re best placed to manage and invest in roads and integrate buses, trains, trams, cycling schemes and so on to suit the diverse needs of businesses and communities.’
Chief executive of Localis, Alex Thomson, said: ‘With transport being an essential part of stimulating and maintaining thriving local economies, greater local influence over commissioning and new flexibilities around infrastructure finance are needed if the Government wants to empower local authorities to get Britain growing again.’
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