Written evidence from National Express
East Anglia and c2c
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the principal train operator for the East
of England, the development of the new LEPs and the introduction
of the new RGF are of significant interest and importance to us.
The rail transport network is a major contributor to the economic
prosperity and sustainable development of the region. We therefore
believe that the new LEP and Regional Growth Fund structures need
to:
1. Include rail and other transport modes as
part of their remit in supporting economic development. 2. Ensure
strategic and tactical transport needs are covered at a regional,
sub-regional and local level.
3. Support business case development for transport
infrastructure and service improvements by providing the economic
evidence which underpins the schemes.
4. Deliver funding support for capital projects
which have a wide impact but which could not be fully funded by
other relevant players.
5. Assist in securing European funding where
appropriate.
6. Act as helpful, informed advisors to government
on key transport priorities as they affect business in their area.
We are not advocating at this stage a particular
proposal, as not all the potential proposals have been confirmed,
given that the deadline for submissions (6 September) has not
yet passed and we will, of course, work proactively with whichever
LEPs emerge. However, we are highlighting the important points
above, which should be integral to the development and operation
of the new arrangements.
This submission to the Business, Innovation
and Skills Select Committee inquiry into Local Enterprise Partnerships
from National Express East Anglia is a short summary aimed at
highlighting some key considerations to be included in the evaluation
of the framework for the new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)
and the introduction of the new Regional Growth Fund (RGF). We
are not advocating at this stage a particular proposal, as not
all the potential proposals have been confirmed, given that the
deadline for submissions (6 September) has not yet passed and
we will, of course, work proactively with whichever LEPs emerge.
However, we are highlighting some important points which must
be integral to the development and operation of the new arrangements.
As the principal train operator for the East
of England, the development of the new LEPs and the introduction
of the new RGF are of significant interest and importance to us.
The rail transport network is a major contributor to the economic
prosperity and sustainable development of the region. The East
of England Development Agency's Transport Economic Evidence Study
(2008) and Study into the economic impact of an upgrade for the
Great Eastern Main Line (2010) have both demonstrated the vital
role that the rail network plays in generating, facilitating and
supporting business success.
It is therefore essential that one of the roles
of the LEPs and RGF should be to support transport developments
which will help underpin economic growth and make it easier for
people to travel around the region.
Although at this stage it is not yet confirmed
what shape and structures will be proposed, some points are worth
considering:
— Business activity is both within and
across county boundaries.
— Transport flows are both within and across
county boundaries.
— Economic activity is often along a particular
corridor, between locations linked by key rail or road networks
at regional, sub-regional and local levels, so for example in
East Anglia you have regional corridors such as the Great Eastern
Main Line (London—Chelmsford—Colchester—Ipswich—Norwich),
the West Anglia route (London—Harlow Bishops Stortford—Stansted
Airport/Cambridge—Kings Lynn) and the Felixstowe to Nuneaton
route (via Ipswich, Peterborough and Leicester); sub-regional
corridors such as Norwich—Cambridge, Ipswich—Cambridge
and Southend—London; and local corridors wholly within counties
such as Colchester—Clacton, Ipswich—Lowestoft, Norwich—Great
Yarmouth.
— There is often agglomeration of particular
sectors of economic activity around key centres and along key
corridors
It is crucial that the LEPs and Regional Growth
Fund are able to tackle and support priorities at both a strategic
and a tactical level—addressing regional, sub-regional and
local needs. In particular, it will be important that regional
transport investment and upgrades which will have a major impact
on business competitiveness are not delayed or stymied by an approach
which ends up making it difficult for such schemes to be properly
prioritised. The benefits (regionally and locally) of some major
regional projects will be much greater than the sum of their individual
parts or some smaller schemes.
At the same time key local transport schemes
can be just as effective in supporting business at a local level.
The critical issue is having a framework which delivers at all
levels.
In summary, then, the new LEP and Regional Growth
Fund structures need to:
7. Include rail and other transport modes as
part of their remit in supporting economic development.
8. Ensure strategic and tactical transport needs
are covered at a regional, sub-regional and local level.
9. Support business case development for transport
infrastructure and service improvements by providing the economic
evidence which underpins the schemes.
10. Deliver funding support for capital projects
which have a wide impact but which could not be fully funded by
other relevant players.
11. Assist in securing European funding where
appropriate.
12. Act as helpful, informed advisors to government
on key transport priorities as they affect business in their area.
19 August 2010
|
