A555 latest Government advice

Dear Stockport Borough Council,

Transport: Local Authority Major Schemes
Statement by:The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Date delivered:10 June
2010 Statement type:Written
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Philip Hammond):

The Government has made clear its most urgent priority is to tackle
the UK's record budget deficit, in order to restore confidence in
the economy and support the recovery. The Department for Transport
will play a full part in the spending review which will be
reporting in the autumn. Only once the Government’s spending review
has been concluded will the Department for Transport be in a
position to identify those major investments that can be supported.

The Government has also made a commitment – as set out in the
Coalition Agreement – to reform the way decisions are made on which
transport projects are prioritised.

Given the uncertainties which both of these factors create, and in
view of the likely budgetary constraints, and the consequent
likelihood that not all schemes will be able to proceed on their
planned timetable, it would be inappropriate for the Department to
continue to invest time and resources on development of schemes at
the same rate as before. Local Authorities will also wish to
consider carefully whether investing further time and resources in
developing such schemes ahead of the Spending Review is justified.
They should not assume that schemes prioritised under the previous
Government’s Regional Funding Allocations (RFA) process will be
funded to the previous published levels.

I am therefore today taking steps to help avoid unnecessary
expenditure, whilst the Government considers its transport
priorities:

The previous Major Schemes Guidance for Local Authorities and
associated approval processes are being suspended until further
notice.
All schemes that were granted Conditional Approval or Programme
Entry by the previous Government will be reviewed as part of the
spending review. Until then, the Government can give no assurances
on funding support for any of these schemes.
Ministers will postpone decisions on scheme orders for schemes
requiring DfT funding, but consideration will be given if there are
alternative funding sources. Similarly, public inquiries on schemes
requiring DfT funding will generally be postponed and no further
inquiries will be scheduled, but inquiries will be allowed to
proceed if there are alternative funding sources.

The previous Major Schemes Guidance for Local Authorities is today
being replaced with new interim guidance to Local Authorities,
which has been placed in the Libraries of the House and will be
available on the Department for Transport website (www.dft.gov.uk)
today. Officials will also be writing to affected local
authorities.

The Government will aim to provide a firm indication on the way
forward later this year once the spending review is complete.

In view of the above Government statement, may I please see any
subsequent Stockport Council documents relating to this regarding
the proposed A555.

Yours faithfully,

Sheila Oliver

Dear FOI Officer,

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Sheila Oliver