Councillor Gary Clarke has today (30 June 2008) been elected as Chairman of Centro, the biggest Passenger Transport Authority outside London, for the fifth year running.

At the Annual General Meeting of the authority, fellow members voted for Cllr Clarke (Conservative, Streetly) to continue leading Centro, the West Midland’s passenger transport authority.

Cllr Len Clark (Conservative, Quinton) will join Gary at the top of the authority as Vice-Chairman for the second year running.

Together with Centro’s other 25 members representing the county’s seven districts, they will continue to set public transport policy for the West Midlands, working cross party to deliver a world class bus, train and tram network for the region.

Cllr Gary Clarke said: “I am very pleased to have been chosen to lead Centro as Chairman for another year.

“Public transport has never been as high on the agenda as it is today due to environmental issues, increasing congestion and rising fuel and food prices affecting everyone’s day to day lives.

“The coming year is hugely important in shaping our future transport system, and we must continue to build on the hard work we have done over the last few years to carry on transforming the West Midland’s bus, train and tram system.

“We eagerly await the publication of the Local Transport Bill, which will be fundamental in helping us to deliver better bus services in the West Midlands by building on the hard work we have already done in partnership with the bus operators.

“Last year the West Midlands cleared a major hurdle in the future of its transport system by securing funding to redevelop New Street Station. Now we need to replicate this success by taking steps forward in delivering our other priorities.

“These priorities include extending the Midland Metro, improving capacity and passenger experience on the region’s rail network and embracing technology with initiatives such as Real Time Information & Smartcard.

“This really is an exciting time for public transport, and I look forward to the year ahead as Chairman of the largest Public Transport Authority outside London.”

Cllr Clarke has been a Walsall Councillor since 1998. He became a member of Centro in 2002 and was elected Chairman in 2004.

Centro is made up of 27 councillors from the region’s seven metropolitan borough councils – Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.