10-Year Transport Plan could fail the industry, claims CECA

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has today (Wednesday) warned that the government's 10-Year Transport Plan is in danger of failing the industry following yesterday's progress report by transport secretary Alistair Darling.

Responding to the Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report, which highlighted a number of failing targets on areas such as congestion, CECA added that although the original plan is not an exact blueprint, delivery of the plan's aims has been unnecessarily delayed.

Although supportive of the principle behind the plan, CECA warned that resources that have been earmarked for use in work under the regime of the plan will have to be diverted elsewhere at a time when infrastructure contractors' services are in high demand.

CECA chairman Chris Harding said: "Darling must get a firmer grip on delivery if he wants to avoid that situation. Of great concern is the apparent failure of many local authorities to spend in line with the plan, and the downsizing of expectations for work on railways and the lack of clarity surrounding its procurement."