{"id":68755,"date":"2016-03-18T13:45:48","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T13:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=535495abc76de0a5e98bdea58ca78842"},"modified":"2016-03-18T13:45:48","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T13:45:48","slug":"speech-we-are-investing-in-hastings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=68755","title":{"rendered":"Speech: We are investing in Hastings"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<h2 id=\"introduction\">Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>Thank you for your welcome.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s great to be down on the beautiful south coast in a town with such a fantastic history.<\/p>\n<p>And with the cutting-edge driverless cars on display at this summit.<\/p>\n<p>We can also see something of the Hastings of the future, too.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, with the presentations from the rail and bus companies, as well as Highways England and Network Rail here today.<\/p>\n<p>You will have heard about the transport improvements already in progress for Hastings.<\/p>\n<p>As yesterday\u2019s budget showed, investing in the rail and road network in the UK is a priority for the government.<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s certainly more work to do for Hastings.<\/p>\n<p>As the Roads Minister, I have seen how new expressways, new link roads or even things as simple as better junctions can unlock investment, spread prosperity and ultimately improve people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n<p>Because a modern transport network doesn\u2019t just lead to faster journeys from A to B.<\/p>\n<p>It creates new jobs and housing.<\/p>\n<p>It cuts congestion and improves the local environment.<\/p>\n<p>And most of all, it creates opportunity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"image embedded\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Transport Minister Andrew Jones and a driverless car.\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/image_data\/file\/50915\/960-aj-driverless-car.jpg\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"improvements\">2015 improvements<\/h2>\n<p>One of the privileges of being a Transport Minister is getting out of the office.<\/p>\n<p>And seeing the work underway to improve infrastructure and make sure Britain has a network fit for the 21st century.<\/p>\n<p>Witnessing the local pride and the sense of anticipation from people who will reap the benefits is the most enjoyable part of my job.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the business that will now be able to invest<\/li>\n<li>the mum who finds her narrow street is quieter and safer for her children<\/li>\n<li>or the job-seeker who finds a new employment opportunity within easy travelling time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Combe Valley Way only opened in December.<\/p>\n<p>But it is great to see for myself the positive impact it has made to the seafront and indeed the whole town.<\/p>\n<p>Ending years of frustration for local people.<\/p>\n<p>And providing far quicker journeys across the region.<\/p>\n<p>Bexhill and Hastings waited a long time for the road.<\/p>\n<p>And now it\u2019s here, it\u2019s already helping communities previously blighted by congestion.<\/p>\n<p>The Combe Valley Way should encourage economic regeneration across the area.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why we put over \u00a350 million into it.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s why this government is determined to invest in the transport infrastructure in this country.<\/p>\n<p>But the new road is just the start of what we are doing in this region and throughout the country as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Across the UK we are investing \u00a315 billion over the next 5 years.<\/p>\n<p>Which will pay for 100 projects to introduce similar improvements for areas across England.<\/p>\n<p>This will include capacity improvements along the A27 to build the dual carriageway Arundel bypass.<\/p>\n<p>And create a far better road around Worthing, Lancing and East of Lewes.<\/p>\n<p>All this work will benefit Hastings by creating faster, more reliable journeys along this key south coast corridor.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"image embedded\">\n<div class=\"img\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Transport Minister Andrew Jones speaking at the Hastings Rail and Road Summit 2016.\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/image_data\/file\/50916\/960-aj-hastings.jpg\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"next-steps\">Next steps<\/h2>\n<p>So I\u2019m pleased to come here at a time when real progress is being been made on improving your road links.<\/p>\n<p>But you will want to hear about what can happen next for this area.<\/p>\n<p>This morning I travelled up and down the A21 to see the Kippings Cross section for myself.<\/p>\n<p>Around 35,000 vehicles use the road every day, so the importance of the A21 to East Sussex and Hastings is clear.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a crucial link between the M25 and the south coast.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, \u00a370 million of improvements to the road are already underway, with the dualling of the Tonbridge to Pembury section due to open next year.<\/p>\n<p>And as the Chancellor confirmed this week, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/road-investment-strategy-post-2020-planning-ahead\">process for preparing for the next period of strategic road investment starting in 2020<\/a> has now been announced.<\/p>\n<p>It means that the investment in our road network will continue.<\/p>\n<p>And that we can enter the research stage for delivering the next wave.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, that research takes time.<\/p>\n<p>But it is vital for ensuring that when we invest in roads, taxpayers\u2019 money is being used for maximum value and to achieve the best possible designs.<\/p>\n<p>So between now and March 2017, Highways England will be reviewing the UK\u2019s entire strategic road network.<\/p>\n<p>To see what road improvements we can make to best overall effect.<\/p>\n<p>The public, local authorities, businesses and politicians will all get the opportunity to have their say \u2013 including in Hastings.<\/p>\n<p>Then, by the end of 2017, Highways England will present its findings to the government.<\/p>\n<p>We will consult on that plan those too \u2013 providing another chance for people to have their say.<\/p>\n<p>And we will make the final announcements on in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, comprehensive improvements to the southern section of the A21 would be a very large undertaking.<\/p>\n<p>Because of the scale of that proposal, the A21 may well be a candidate for a future strategic study by the government. <\/p>\n<p>Such studies are used to examine the very biggest challenges facing the road network.<\/p>\n<p>They have been used to look at, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/northern-trans-pennine-strategic-study-interim-report\">links across the Northern Pennines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-plan-to-boost-south-east-transport-infrastructure\">improvements to the busiest parts of the M25<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But most importantly for me, my visit today has ensured that when I work with Highways England, and when we take those final investment decisions in 2019, I will be in possession of the full facts on the ground.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>And so in conclusion, as the announcements the government has made this week have made clear, transport investment is a cornerstone of this government\u2019s plan for economic growth.<\/p>\n<p>That isn\u2019t to provide impressive-looking figures on a spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<p>It is about allowing towns like Hastings to achieve their potential.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s a prospect everyone here can support.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roads Minister Andrew Jones delivers a speech on transport investment in Hastings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68755"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=68755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68755\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=68755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=68755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=68755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}