Campaign for Better Transport

Campaign for Better Transport
Name	Campaign for Better Transport
Founded	1997
Type	Nonprofit organisation
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Focus	Transport policy, public transport, sustainable mobility

Campaign for Better Transport

Campaign for Better Transport is a United Kingdom-based advocacy group promoting public transport, active travel and sustainable mobility. Founded in 1997, it engages with parliamentary bodies, local authorities and transport operators to shape policy across England, Scotland and Wales. The organisation works alongside a network of National Trust partners, environmental NGOs and user groups to influence debates on rail, bus and active travel investment.

History

The organisation was founded in 1997 in response to debates following the privatisation of British Rail and the reorganisation of bus services after the Transport Act 1985. Early supporters included figures from Friends of the Earth and campaigning networks connected to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Campaign for Real Ale who sought alternatives to road expansion promoted after the M25 motorway era. During the 2000s the group campaigned on issues related to the aftermath of the Hatfield rail crash and the collapse of Railtrack, engaging with inquiries led by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and the Office of Rail Regulation. In the 2010s Campaign for Better Transport aligned with coalitions responding to the Climate Change Act 2008 and the Paris Agreement, expanding work on bus franchising debates that involved the Mayor of London model and devolved transport authorities such as Transport for Greater Manchester. The organisation has participated in consultations alongside think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and the IPPR North network, while submitting evidence to the Committee on Climate Change.

Mission and Objectives

The organisation's stated mission focuses on promoting alternatives to private car travel and opposing road-building schemes linked to projects such as the A14 road project and contentious proposals that echo earlier campaigns over the M3 motorwayTwickenham Pier controversies. Objectives include securing investment for regional rail links exemplified by campaigns for reopened lines like the Borders Railway and supporting bus networks similar to the integrated systems overseen by Transport for London. It seeks policy change at the level of the Department for Transport, UK devolved administrations including Scottish Government and Welsh Government, and local combined authorities such as the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Campaigns and Activities

Activities range from grassroots mobilisations with local groups such as Sustrans stakeholders and Ramblers' Association volunteers, to strategic interventions in planning inquiries involving the Planning Inspectorate (England and Wales). High-profile campaigns have targeted road schemes like the A303 Stonehenge proposals and promoted rail reopenings comparable to the Borders Railway project. The organisation produces research reports used in debates in the House of Commons, briefing materials circulated to MPs and peers in the House of Lords, and collaborates with transport unions including TSSA and RMT on fare and service issues. It has run public petitions, local ballot initiatives, and media campaigns engaging outlets like the BBC, The Guardian, and The Times. Internationally, it exchanges expertise with NGOs at forums such as ICLEI and the European Federation for Transport and Environment.

Structure and Funding

Structured as a charity and company limited by guarantee, the organisation operates from offices in London with regional contacts across English regions and links to civic bodies in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Governance includes a board of trustees drawn from transport planners, environmentalists and civic leaders with ties to institutions such as the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Royal Town Planning Institute. Funding sources include charitable grants from foundations like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and project funding from trusts associated with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and membership subscriptions. It has also received occasional project grants from the European Commission programmes prior to UK withdrawal, and commissions research from consultancies with links to Arup and Mott MacDonald.

Policy Influence and Advocacy

The organisation has influenced policy debates on bus franchising, rail reform and road building through evidence submissions to the National Infrastructure Commission and participation in consultations by the Office of Rail and Road. It contributed to discussions preceding legislation such as the Bus Services Act 2017 and engaged with Whitehall officials in the context of spending reviews led by the HM Treasury. Campaigns have informed local transport plans adopted by combined authorities including Greater Manchester Combined Authority and fed into climate strategies aligned with targets set by the Committee on Climate Change. It has been cited in parliamentary questions raised by MPs from parties including the Labour Party (UK), Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics, including some trade associations for road haulage and construction firms like the Freight Transport Association and lobbying groups connected to the Confederation of British Industry, argue that the organisation underestimates economic benefits attributed to major road projects such as the A1(M). Controversies have included disputes over traffic model assumptions used in reports challenged by engineering consultancies and local authorities such as Kent County Council and Dorset Council. Some campaigners and academics from institutions like the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford have debated its policy prescriptions in journals and parliamentary briefings, while private development interests have mounted legal challenges in planning inquiries where the organisation submitted objections.

Category:Transport advocacy organizations in the United Kingdom