A CALL for £2.8bn of investment in major roads and rail projects is the centrepiece of proposals set to be put to the Government by Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

The three county councils for the areas have today unveiled their demands as part of the so-called “England’s Economic Heartland” alliance.

They are seeking a five-year deal with the Government for longer funding guarantees and investment in infrastructure, including the A34, A43, A45 “artery” and the A428 and A421 “expressway” corridors.

The councils have previously stressed there are no plans for a combined authority, but in a statement today said a “growing devolution agenda nationally has provided the platform for this new approach”.

The alliance has also proposed “smart ticketing” across the three counties and major partnerships on infrastructure projects.

There are also plans for “collaborative blue-light services” – the police, fire and ambulance services.

A document seen by the Oxford Mail said: “This could include a shared approach and allocation of resources with Highways England and the ‘blue light services’ to rapid response units and the winter maintenance service on the major road network regardless of ownership.”

And the councils said a single joint car parking enforcement scheme could also be rolled out.

The document added it would “standardise approaches across the locality and to reap the benefits of a rationalised back office and on street enforcement”.

“The efficiencies gained will be ploughed back into the local transport network.

“We will seek the devolvement of fines collected for local use in improving transport services against an agreed defined hierarchy of interventions.”

Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Many journeys with a big impact on the local economy don’t start or end in Oxfordshire so it is important that investment in our major roads network is planned with our neighbours.

 “That’s why we are working closely with Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire to press government to invest in these roads that are so crucial to creating jobs and helping people get to work.

 “By talking with one voice, we’re sure that government is more likely to listen to the strong business case for this vitally important investment that supports its growth ambition.”

The alliance said it already had a £46.6bn economy and would seek to grow it by £9bn each year, creating at least 135,000 new jobs by 2020.