Transport Secretary warned not to make spending cuts

Date: 17/5/2010

Tough choices will need to be made by the new Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, according to the Campaign for Better Transport.

The group, which lobbies the government to introduce transport schemes that improve people's lives, has claimed Mr Hammond will need to act fast to prevent damage to the environment and the economy.

Executive Director Stephen Joseph said cutting transport budgets may lead to the demise of local bus services and could increase train fares.

However, he added: "We welcome the new government's focus on reducing carbon from transport and its scrapping the third runway at Heathrow."

Mr Joseph also noted the broad building budget needs to be trimmed to make sure spending is the focal point for meeting potential transport needs.

Personnel from the organisation have written to the Transport Secretary in a bid to warn against slicing funds across all resources as it could damage the economic recovery and targets for carbon reduction.