Road spending in London
Page 17
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REGARDING your absurd claim that "the current Labourcontrolled Greater London Council has virtually frozen the road building programme".
You incorrectly stated (CM, July 16) that the Tories spent £20.38m in 1979. In 1978/79 they spent £7.9m, in 1979/80 £11.39m and it was in 1980/81 that they spent £20.38m. You are also wrong to claim that "in real money terms there has been little or no increase", and that this information only became available after you published the original item.
In real terms expenditure of £20.38m in 1980/81 becomes £25.49m at 1983/84 outturn prices, which clearly shows that our claim of a 30 per cent increase to £39m to be modest. Next year we intend to increase expenditure to £50.78m. All this information has been published by the GLC in last year's TPP and this February's Budget documents, indeed I announced the 30 per cent increase in a press release dated March 30, almost two months before your article appeared!
It has been our policy to consult with the public and review the £800m road programme we inherited. We dropped £300m worth of new roads that did not meet our 16point criteria and have agreed to spend extra money on building the roads that Londoners need.
There is no excuse for your pre-election statement that we have frozen the road building programme.
Yours for Socialism, DAVE WETZEL Transport Committee Chair Greater London Council Council Hall SE1