Spending review decision and support for East Midlands public transport
When will the spending review decision on the A38 be announced?
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, made her first major spending review announcement on Wednesday 11 June 2025, but there was no mention of the A38 Derby scheme.
On Thursday 19 June, the Government released the UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy, setting out long-term investment priorities—but again, no update on the A38.
However, the Government did say a pipeline of capital projects is due to be published by the recess (23 July). This could include all the schemes in consideration for Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3). However the final RIS3 won’t be published until “early next year” now.
We will share any news on the 23 July.
What can you do?
There’s still time to write to decision-makers. Even if you’ve written before, please write again.
We are urging the Government to use the £24 billion roads capital budget for road maintenance and repairs, especially for neglected local authority roads, over funding new capacity projects.
Building new roads and expanding existing roads just results in more traffic, more pollution, damages the environment and worsens the climate crisis. Extra road capacity projects also do not tend to deliver as much return on investment and economic growth as public transport and active travel schemes do.
Additionally, other public services face cuts, and analysts now warn that tax rises may be needed in the autumn to fund infrastructure commitments. Public services are clearly more important than outdated, climate and nature wrecking schemes like the A38.
Support East Midlands public transport campaigns
A photo on the Derby Cathedral Green of the Stop the A38 campaign banner with some of the local Better Buses campaigners at the Derby Silk Mill rally in early June.
Letter writing action: Tell the Mayor to fund sustainable travel not roads
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-the-mayor-to-fund-sustainable-travel-not-roads
Sign the petition: Take the East Midlands’ Buses Back Into Public Control
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/take-the-east-midlands-buses-back-into-public-control
Read and share this article:
Why Britain must kick its addiction to damaging infrastructure megaprojects: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/24/lower-thames-crossing-britain-addicted-infrastructure-projects
This article by George Monbiot in The Guardian is a must-read for anyone opposing destructive road schemes like the A38 expansion. It exposes how Britain’s obsession with massive infrastructure projects such as the £10–£16 billion Lower Thames Crossing which is wasting public money and driving up traffic, pollution, and carbon emissions. These schemes deliver little long-term benefit and come at the expense of real transport solutions.