TRANSPORT

 

 

 

Many individuals and families in the Banbury area are forced to keep and maintain two, or even three cars to enable them to access work and amenities. This is clearly shockingly damaging to the environment, to people's ability to access services and facilities they need, and also to people's spending power which in turn affects the viability of shops and communities.

 

Residents of the constituency were assured that deregulation of bus services in the 1980s would provide more, not less, choice and services. Within months, predictably, unprofitable routes were dispensed with by services who had promised to maintain transport and since then, people have got out of the habit of using and depending on public transport. This has to change if any government has serious intentions of addressing climate change.

 

Meanwhile deep cuts to county council budgets have meant councillors have had to prioritise legal obligations to social care and other departments over highway maintenance. Some of our roads have been little better than third world standard with ludicrous rules for 'patching' of myriad potholes. Motorists have been picking up the cost through damage to their vehicles and many are both angry and frustrated. This is another consequence of 'austerity' measures which the National Health Action Party opposes (see Economy and other sections).

 

We believe that an integrated, environmentally sustainable transport system, with access for all, promotes economic development. This requires an integrated transport policy, which decades of de-regulation and increasing privatisation have thwarted.

 

Privatisation of the railways has not served the nation well and we support re-nationalisation. Rail fares must come down to increase rail use and reduce the burden on our roads.

 

We oppose the privatisation of the road network.

 

We support re-regulation of buses services nationwide and the expansion of bus routes to provide better services to rural and isolated populations who depend on them.

 

We support transport initiatives to improve the connectivity and economic fortunes of our major northern cities and towns. But we believe HS2 has run into too many problems and unacceptable increases in predicted cost and we believe there are better ways to invest £50+bn with a much wider range of policies, to improve the connectivity and economic fortunes of our major northern cities and towns.

 

We would promote walking and cycling in our cities and towns with more cycle lanes and greater urban pedestrianisation.

 

Public safety must be a priority in design, planning and building.