County Lib Dems call for TIF commitment

2.30.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 22nd Aug 2009

Cambridgeshire County Council Liberal Democrats have called for Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, and the Conservative and Liberal Democrat shadows ministers, to confirm that they will continue to make funding available through the Transport Innovation Fund.

Nichola Harrison, the council's Lib Dem Environment spokesperson has released letters addressed to Lord Adonis, Theresa Villiers and Norman Baker.

She said: "The government's recent decision to slash Cambridgeshire's Housing Growth grant is a sign of how bad things are over public spending cuts. How do we know that the county will not be treated in the same way over the TIF?

"In a few weeks, the council has to decide whether to make a detailed bid to the TIF, which could bring £500 million of transport investment alongside a future commitment to introduce a congestion charge. It's a very big decision - why should the people of Cambridgeshire consider making this huge commitment if central government might pull the plug on funding at any time?

"We want assurances from all the parties which are serious about winning the next election, to the effect that they have a long term commitment to the TIF scheme and the funding stream it provides. Otherwise this could be another case of broken promises and the broken trust that follows."

David Jenkins, Leader of the council's Lib Dems, said: 'This county has been short-changed by successive governments over transport and other infrastructure investment. Future economic and housing growth, and the need to address climate change, will present us with enormous challenges and TIF funding could help us meet these, to the benefit of people and businesses throughout Cambridgeshire. It is important that those who think that they might be in power after the general election indicate whether they are committed to the TIF.'