The Gatwick Diamond's transport network is one of its greatest economic assets. Maintaining and improving connectivity is critical to achieving a globally competitive economy. The CONNECT Task Group is developing a high level strategy to achieve these aspirations. The Chair of Connect Group is Tony Toynton, Director of Communities and Infrastructure at West Sussex County Council.

Working with Government and regional partners, it is establishing immediate and longer term priorities for transport infrastructure and development.

Immediate objectives include:

• Ensuring the delivery of major road projects already in the region's forward programme including improvements to the A23, A24, A272 and M23.
• Enabling more sustainable transport choices by:
  - Improving Gatwick station
  - Promoting improved east/west public transport access to Gatwick and/or Redhill
  - Building in sustainable transport provision in all major housing developments
  - Implementing and expanding the 'easit' voluntary travel planning programme working with large employers in initially in Crawley and then beyond
  - Improving transport hubs at Three Bridges and Redhill
• Improving transport access to Gatwick Airport to assist its potential to reach more destinations worldwide.
• Improvements to maintain access to key business sites including Manor Royal in Crawley and Victoria Way in Burgess Hill.
• Supporting the development of the broadband fibre infrastructure to provide high speed connectivity in the commercial centres and in rural areas.

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