Latest News Railway Industry Association sets out four ‘asks’ for UK’s future trade policy
Chair of the ADEPT’ Transport Board and 1st Vice President Mark Kemp
The Railway Industry Association, the voice of the UK rail supply community, has set out four key ‘asks’ for Government as the UK looks to develop an independent trade policy. The four asks include: • Rail to continue to be included in the negotiation of free trade deals – UK rail exports are a real growth opportunity; • Access to an appropriately skilled workforce and mobility for skilled UK workers, at all levels, to enable the UK to compete globally; • Consistent application of standards with mutual recognition/ equivalence and non-discrimination as core principles in all trade agreements; and • Smooth cross border trade rules – which minimise cost and delay, and avoid trade distortionary tariffs as much as possible. Damian Testa, Senior Policy Manager at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “As the UK prepares to leave the EU transition period and develop its own independent trade policy, it is worth remembering that the rail industry is a significant UK exporter, selling £800 million each year overseas in goods and services. With the UK currently negotiating Free Trade Agreements with a number of other states, there is the opportunity for the UK rail industry to export even more, but there is also the risk that that barriers to trade could arise through changes in policy. “The Railway Industry Association is therefore setting out four principles today highlighting what the rail sector needs to flourish in a post-transition environment. This means rail being considered in free trade agreements, ensuring continued access to skilled overseas and domestic workers, the consistent application of standards and smooth cross border trade rules that minimise disruption for rail businesses.
As we approach the crunch point for talks with the EU and other nations, we ask the Government to consider the role rail can play in developing a ‘Global Britain’.
Active travel must be embedded into transport network to ensure government’s ‘new era’ - ADEPT launches new policy position Following the Government’s £250m emergency active travel fund back in May, local authorities across England have been installing temporary infrastructure to enable more walking and cycling. The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) has now launched its key policy position, saying that investment in active travel must enable these structural and behavioural changes to become a permanent part of everyday life.
if it is serious about its commitment to achieving net zero and tackling climate change. It argues that successful measures must be made permanent and councils must be enabled to bring about structural change. To do this, however, councils must be properly resourced with long term capital and revenue funding to ensure both the delivery and ongoing maintenance of active travel infrastructure created through local cycling and walking infrastructure plans.
The paper argues that to truly usher in the Government’s ‘new era’ and ensure active travel is here to stay, walking and cycling must be designed into the travel network to maintain the changes that Covid-19 has brought about.
Chair of the ADEPT’ Transport Board and 1st Vice President Mark Kempsaid: “The concept of a ‘20 minute neighbourhood’ where people have everything they need - schools, shops, recreation and work - within a 20-minute walk is gaining traction across government.
Typical measures already brought in by councils have focused in many areas on locations with high footfall and narrow footways – those that have presented a challenge for enabling social distancing. Reducing waiting times at pedestrian crossings, installing temporary roadworks and signage, and reallocating road space are just some of the changes introduced at speed. Local authorities have been keen to adapt these in line with community feedback to ensure that the needs of different users can be accommodated.
“Enabling active travel is going to be fundamental to delivering rejuvenated neighbourhoods and creating brilliant places with stronger local economies, where people are able to enjoy a higher quality of life with cleaner air, a healthier lifestyle and a greater focus on local communities.
ADEPT considers the Government must empower local authorities to go further
12 Construction UK Magazine - August 2020
“ADEPT members are ready to work with government to make this truly a ‘new era’, but to succeed, these changes can only be made at the local level, using local knowledge and securing the buy-in of communities through clear engagement. To do that, place directors must have the resources in place and the ability to lead.”