Transport strategy to improve funding opportunities

September 7, 2022

Southend-on-Sea City Council’s cabinet is set to endorse a transport strategy which will shape travel improvements and seek funding opportunities for the east of England.

Transport East is a sub-national transport body comprising Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and was set up to provide a single voice for the future of transport in the eastern region. Department for Transport (DfT) requested Transport East prepared a transport strategy to set the direction for transport in the region up to 2050.

Transport East carried out an eight-week consultation on the strategy, and are now seeking approval from all highways authorities covered by the body, including Southend-on-Sea City Council.

The vision for the strategy is to create ‘a thriving eastern region with safe, efficient and net-zero transport networks advancing a future of inclusive and sustainable growth for decades to come.’ The strategy identifies four key priorities for the east that strongly reflect the views captured from across the region including Southend-on-Sea:

Decarbonising transport to Net Zero

Connecting growing towns and cities

Energising coastal and rural communities

Unlocking global gateways

Cllr Steven Wakefield, cabinet member for highways, transport and parking, said: “For Southend-on-Sea to truly achieve our goal of being the number one tourist destination in the UK, we need to ensure our transport strategy aligns with neighbouring authorities in the east of England so that Southend-on-Sea is accessible as possible.

"I am particularly pleased that one of the key priorities of the strategy is decarbonising transport to net zero, which aligns with our own policies and ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This is key for us unlocking our City’s potential.

“If cabinet endorse this report, we will be able to work closely with Transport East to bid for high-level funding opportunities from the Department for Transport, which will give our City a push in the right direction.”

The council’s cabinet will discuss the Transport East Strategy next week (agenda item 10).