Lib Dems reveal Northamptonshire has highest Rise in Traffic Levels

11.00.00pm GMT Wed 16th Jan 2008

Traffic levels in England have risen dramatically over the past decade, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats. The figures, revealed in a parliamentary question, show the 12% average rise across the country masks greater rises in many areas. The largest increase has been in Northamptonshire, where traffic levels have risen by a fifth, with other dramatic increases in North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Durham.

Commenting on this Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North said:

"Here in black and white is proof of Labour's ten years of failed transport policies. They say they are serious about tackling climate change, but everywhere except London traffic levels keep on rising. Perhaps this is no surprise when the cost of motoring is going down under this Government and the cost of public transport is going up."

Here in Northampton we have seen rail fares for commuters increase by nearly 5% and bus fares increasing quicker than the cost of using a car. There seems to be no serious attempt to provide a reliable and inexpensive alternative to the car so it is no surprise that traffic levels continue to increase"

Ends

Note to Editors:

The table below shows the traffic increase by county. This information has been published after Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary asked a parliamentary question.

Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in traffic levels (a) on English roads and (b) in each county within England was for each year since 1997, taking the 1997 levels as 100 per cent. [178130]

15 Jan 2008 : Column 1092W

Ms Rosie Winterton: The change in traffic levels for England and its constituent counties can be found in the following table. The change is shown as an index based on 1997.

Index of traffic growth by English counties( 1) (1997 = 100)

County name 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

England 100 102 104 104 106 108 109 111 111 112

Central London 100 102 102 101 98 96 95 98 98 98

Inner London excluding Central 100 100 102 102 102 102 102 101 99 101

Outer London 100 101 104 104 104 105 105 104 105 106

Avon 100 102 105 106 108 111 112 114 115 115

Bedfordshire 100 103 104 103 104 108 110 113 113 111

Berkshire 100 102 104 105 106 109 108 108 108 109

Buckinghamshire 100 102 106 109 110 111 111 110 110 111

Cambridgeshire 100 101 104 104 106 107 109 111 111 112

Cheshire 100 102 104 105 106 106 108 110 110 113

Cleveland 100 101 104 104 106 109 110 111 110 112

Cornwall 100 101 101 102 105 110 113 115 116 117

Cumbria 100 101 102 103 102 106 107 109 109 110

Derbyshire 100 102 103 100 103 104 107 109 109 110

Devon 100 102 102 103 105 109 109 112 113 114

Dorset 100 102 105 105 106 109 110 110 112 113

Durham 100 102 104 104 106 110 111 113 114 117

East Sussex 100 102 103 103 105 107 109 111 111 112

Essex 100 101 104 104 106 107 108 110 110 112

Gloucestershire 100 101 105 106 108 110 112 114 115 117

Greater Manchester 100 102 104 104 107 111 111 114 112 112

Hampshire 100 102 104 105 108 111 111 113 113 114

Hereford and Worcester 100 102 105 105 105 109 108 109 110 113

Hertfordshire 100 101 102 101 103 106 105 107 106 106

Humberside 100 101 104 103 105 109 110 113 113 114

Isle of Wight 100 100 101 103 104 108 110 111 110 114

Kent 100 102 104 106 108 111 112 114 114 115

Lancashire 100 102 104 103 105 108 108 112 112 113

Leicestershire 100 103 106 105 107 110 111 113 113 113

Lincolnshire 100 102 104 105 106 110 112 114 116 117

Merseyside 100 101 102 104 105 109 109 110 112 113

Norfolk 100 102 103 104 106 109 110 112 114 115

North Yorkshire 100 102 103 102 105 108 109 112 114 119

Northamptonshire 100 103 107 107 109 114 118 120 118 120

Northumberland 100 101 105 104 107 109 110 114 114 117

Nottinghamshire 100 101 104 103 104 107 109 111 111 114

Oxfordshire 100 102 104 105 106 110 108 110 110 111

Shropshire 100 102 103 103 106 109 109 111 112 113

Somerset 100 102 104 104 107 110 111 113 114 117

South Yorkshire 100 103 104 105 107 111 111 115 115 116

Staffordshire 100 101 103 103 105 107 109 112 115 116

Suffolk 100 101 103 103 105 107 109 110 110 111

Surrey 100 104 104 103 106 107 107 108 107 108

Tyne and Wear 100 101 103 103 105 108 109 110 110 110

Warwickshire 100 103 102 103 105 106 106 110 111 114

West Midlands 100 102 103 103 103 107 107 108 108 108

West Sussex 100 103 105 106 107 108 109 111 111 111

West Yorkshire 100 103 103 104 105 107 107 109 109 112

Wiltshire 100 103 103 103 104 107 109 109 112 113

(1) The counties are based on the pre-1997 boundaries.