R EGIONAL studies for welding into a national transport plan have
Page 45

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
been put in hand on an urgent basis as a result of a meeting in London on March 3 between Mrs. Barbara Castle, Minister of Transport, and chairmen of regional economic planning councils.
The timetable for the pilot surveys, covering transport co-ordination in particular conurbations, integration of freight, and associated problems, requires abroad outline of regional aims by April for incorporation in a White Paper on transport policies; and for detailed reports within six months for the national plan.
To speed up the work, Ministry staff in the regions will be strengthened by the appointment of senior officials in key cities such as Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham; transport bodies and universities will also be brought into the scheme.
Also on March 3, Mrs. Castle held the first meeting of the Transport C o-ordinating Council for London which has been set up with the Main aim of a concerted attack on the problems of public transport in the Metropolis. The council, which includes the leaders of GLC, LTB, BRB, TUC and London Boroughs Conlitnittee, will immediately set up specialist working groups to tackle congestion under these heads: (1) Co-ordination, . between the different forms of transport, and integration of traffic management measures with transport operations.
(2) Planning interchange facilities between different forms of transport—private car, train, bus, and air, including provision of car parks at stations.
(3) Overall planning of major investment in all forms of transport and transport facilities-rail, underground and road.
(4) Planning of the strategic highway network.
(5) Movement of freight in the London area.
Bodies concerned with transport activities in London will be invited to be associated with particular aspects of their work.