Devon Transport Spending: 2015 Budget

[whole diary]

[Oberon]

In his forthcoming autumn statement, due to be made on December 3rd the Chancellor George Osborn is expected to announce significant transport infrastructure spending in Devon. The most significant projects affecting the region being looked at are a massive upgrade of the A303 highway connecting the Westcountry to the South West, which could cost as much as ^1.2 billion, and shoring up the main London-Cornwall railway line, destroyed at Dawlish in Devon during the winter storms, which could come with a ^3 billion price-tag. It seems some people, noticeably a cross party Westcountry group of MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) are urging him to go beyond a "sticking plaster solution" to the county's transport woes. In answer to criticism George Osborn said ^I assure him that we are looking at specific transport improvements to connect better the whole of the South West with the rest of the United Kingdom." I got this information from the Exeter Express & Echo and I'm sure it is substantially correct - except I would have thought ^3 billion to shore up the Dawlish sea wall is quite a lot of money. Perhaps this is a hint that there is something else in the offing. We shall see..

[Red Squirrel]

Here's a link to the story:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Devon-transport-links-set-upgrade-George-Osborne/story-22871434-detail/story.html

[JayMac]

Hmm... ^3 billion?

That's the ball park figure for two of the more expensive of the five options (C1^▸ ((on coaches) National route restriction)-C5) for a Dawlish Avoiding Line (DAL) according to Network Rail's West of England Route Resilience Study.

Or it could be a combination of costs toward strengthening the existing route and building an alternative route. You could, with ^3bn and according to Network Rail's estimates, do the strengthening, build one of the cheaper options for a (DAL) and reopen the route via Okehampton and Tavistock.

[Red Squirrel]

On re-reading the West of England Route Resilience Study I spotted a minor flaw that had escaped my notice before - whilst they have calculated a cost for Option 2 (beef up the present line; ^659 million) they have not calculated a BCR^▸ (Benefit Cost Ratio). Seems odd to me...

[JayMac]

We'll obviously have to wait until George makes his pre-budget statement, but ^3bn is a heck of a lot for a rail transport capital project outside the scope of Network Rail's Control Period spending. Especially for one in the West Country.

I'll believe it when I see it. If it is true then no doubt George and Dave have their eyes on some marginal seats in the west and are looking to make gains and shore up the tory vote.

[paul7575]

Using the traditional definitions shouldn't December 3rd have to be considered the Chancellor's winter statement?  Is it usually this late?

According to Roger Ford though, 'seasonal based' announcements are never to be trusted anyway...

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Winter officially starts on 21st December doesn't it?

[Oberon]

Seasonal based announcements are certainly never to be trusted from H M Treasury, Captain Deltic is, as always, entirely correct - but next May there will be a definite general election and the west country is choc full of marginal Con-Lib seats. I know this is an over-used clich^ but the prevailing state of affairs might actually be a once in a generation chance to get something more than a few more bricks and a dollop or two of concrete at Dawlish.

[paul7575]

Winter officially starts on 21st December doesn't it?

That's the winter solstice surely, the shortest day.  The met office apparently consider winter to be the three coldest months (taken on average), i.e. December, January and February.

Paul 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Using the traditional definitions shouldn't December 3rd have to be considered the Chancellor's winter statement?  Is it usually this late?

Previous Autumn Statements have been delivered by the Chancellor on 29 November 2010, 29 November 2011, 5 December 2012 and 5 December 2013.

[paul7575]

Using the traditional definitions shouldn't December 3rd have to be considered the Chancellor's winter statement?  Is it usually this late?

Previous Autumn Statements have been delivered by the Chancellor on 29 November 2010, 29 November 2011, 5 December 2012 and 5 December 2013.

Much obliged sir!   Only a week in it then - I'm surprised...

[IndustryInsider]

Winter officially starts on 21st December doesn't it?

That's the winter solstice surely, the shortest day.  The met office apparently consider winter to be the three coldest months (taken on average), i.e. December, January and February.

I think officially the winter solstice officially marks the start of Winter as the summer solstice marks the start of summer.  Though the meteorological dates do differ from that.  Another grey area... 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter

[Red Squirrel]

We'll obviously have to wait until George makes his pre-budget statement, but ^3bn is a heck of a lot for a rail transport capital project outside the scope of Network Rail's Control Period spending. Especially for one in the West Country.

I'll believe it when I see it. If it is true then no doubt George and Dave have their eyes on some marginal seats in the west and are looking to make gains and shore up the tory vote.

Re-reading the Express & Echo piece, I think the ^3BN figure is theirs, not George's. But all will become clear on or around the 3rd Sunday after Martinmas.

[JayMac]

You may be right Red Squirrel. The figure quoted could well be the cost of the most expensive option. Same goes, I suspect, for the A303 enhancement works.

On that later point a report is expected in Autumn 2014 (please, no further discussion on when seasons are  ) following the A303/A30/A358 Corridor Feasibility Study currently under way.

That study encompases a large area and isn't confined to Devon. Input to the study has come from Wiltshire Council and Somerset County Council. I'm particularly interested in the A358 corridor from Ilminster to Taunton. A route I regularly use by bus or Mum's taxi, and one on which I have experienced a fair share of problems. Henlade on the A358 is one of the worst A road bottlenecks in the whole of the west.

My last two trips by car between Taunton and Curry Rivel used alternative routes via country lanes to avoid snarl-ups on the A358. One of those alternative routes became even more convoluted thanks to another A road closure (A3259) near Taunton. My Mum was grateful of my knowledge of the back lanes around West Monkton near Taunton learnt from my days skiving off school and going out on my bicycle. Who'd've though skiving could be a learning experience. 

[JayMac]

A friend was stuck in horrendous traffic on the A303 in Wiltshire earlier today.

He wasn't too impressed to discover the reason for the hold-ups were because some American bloke wanted to visit Stonehenge.