Dan Watkins has welcomed the Government’s new National Infrastructure Plan – setting out clear plans for investment in infrastructure, including transportation and flood defences.
Across London the plan sets out:
- Crossrail 2: Government will provide £2m between 2014-15 and 2015-16 to support the development of a comprehensive business case for Crossrail 2, which will have a station at Tooting Browadway
- Access for All: £60 million national funding pot for local train stations to bid for funding to improve access
- Ultra-Low Emission Buses: Government will provide an additional £10m between 2015-16 and 2019-20 to increase ultra-low emission vehicles in London, in support of the ambition to introduce an Ultra-Low Emission Zone by 2025
- Major flood defence schemes: to reduce flood risk, including extra funding for the Lower Thames Scheme.
This builds on other local investments since 2010 which have benefitted Tooting residents, such as the Northern Line upgrade which goes live this week, providing an extra 18% capacity to relieve peak hour overcrowding.
In total across Britain, the plan commits to £15 billion of investment in roads and £2.3 billion in flood defences, confirms our £38 billion Network Rail programme, and will ensure 95 per cent of premises have access to superfast broadband by 2017.
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
“Today’s National Infrastructure Plan is a key part of our long term economic plan. It sets out our vision for our roads, our railways, housing and local flood defences – so that we have modern infrastructure fit for the 21st century.
It’s only because we’ve got a strong economy that we’re able to do this. This plan will transform roads, rail and other infrastructure in London - helping local businesses to create more jobs and families to have more security for the years ahead.”
Dan Watkins said:
“This is excellent news for Tooting, and will be a real boost for local households and businesses. I’m particularly pleased to see further upgrades to our transport infrastructure, which will reduce journey times, relieve over-crowding and boost air quality.
Ultimately this will mean more jobs and growth, helping to deliver a better future for residents in Tooting”.