ransport body opposed
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(BENCH MPS' proposals for a Metropolitan Transportation ority are being opposed by the Association of County Councils, Is ALAN MILLAR.
s concerned that the propor an MTA, advanced by the ;e of Commons transport ,nittee in its report on transin London (CM, August 7), Id remove major transport dons from democratically ted representatives, and Id do nothing to solve the ;ulties affecting London and h-east England.
e committee proposed the )1ishment of an authority as leans of overcoming the gs of political control in Ion. Representatives would rawn from the local authoriind principal interest groups he region and additional lbers nominated by the sport Secretary.
e ACC, however, believes an MTA, effectively operatis an agent of the Transport etary, Would be as vulnerto the swings of power at mal level, and that it would ss likely to fulfil the needs of the residents of the shire counties or, indeed, Greater London.
An ACC spokesman told CM: "We would rather stick with what we have got, and try to make that work."
It accepts that there is a need• for a more co-ordinated approach to transport planning in -the region, but believes this can be undertaken within the existing framework which is better geared towards the interests of individual counties.
There is some doubt, in any case, about whether the Government will make any moves toward establishing an MTA, as the Commons report has been seen by many as little more than a means of short-circuiting the transport policies of the present Greater London Council.
. An MTA with powers to tax local authorities throughout the region could well threaten the Government itself.