Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities work together in ensuring that key routes between council areas, such as bridges, remain safe and accessible to the public.

Local authorities are independent bodies. Section 108, Part 2 of the Transport Act 2000 (as amended by the Local Transport Act 2008) sets out that each local transport authority must (a) develop policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport to, from and within their area, and (b) carry out their functions so as to implement those policies. The Act also defines transport as, among other things, the transport required to meet the needs of persons living or working in the authority’s area, or visiting or travelling through that area.

The Department collaborates closely with local authorities on a range of issues. However, in London, Transport for London is best placed to facilitate any additional coordination of transport issues between Boroughs that may be considered necessary.