Rail plan could leave county 'in stasis', says MP

2 days ago

Alex McIntyreWest Midlands

News image — Dr Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South MP, said many people in Staffordshire faced uncertainty

House of Commons Dr Allison Gardner - a woman with long blonde hair and wearing a red jacket - stands and speaks in the House of Commons — Dr Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South MP, said many people in Staffordshire faced uncertainty

Government plans to improve railways in northern England could leave Staffordshire "sitting in stasis", an MP has said.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander set out her vision for the long-promised Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme, which will see £45bn of upgrades to the network.

But several Staffordshire Labour MPs said it would do nothing to solve the uncertainty faced by their constituents following the scrapping of HS2's northern leg in 2023.

In her responses in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Alexander told each MP ministers would meet with them to discuss their concerns.

The government stated its intention to eventually build a new link between Birmingham and Manchester, but said it was not a reinstatement of the scrapped second phase of HS2.

Dr Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South MP, welcomed the announcement but said: "In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, we still sit in stasis, with legacy issues such as the HS2 compound at Yarnfield which is costing millions."

She said there needed to be clarity on rail plans for the area, as well as the issues around HS2, which included concerns over the future of land purchased for the scrapped scheme.

Lichfield MP Dave Robertson said his constituents had to deal with "the complete failure of HS2" for 17 years and added the cancellation of the scheme "did nothing to alleviate those problems".

He said the minister's statement confirmed the uncertainty would continue for another two decades.

House of Commons Leigh Ingham - a woman with glasses, long dark hair and wearing a purple jacket over a white top - stands and speaks in the House of Commons while reading from a piece of paper. — Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, said many of her constituents faced uncertainty

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham described the NPR announcement as "sensible" but said her constituents faced "more years of worrying".

Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, welcomed the government's statement but said he had concerns about the impact on his constituents.

"I've heard from countless people in Newcastle-under-Lyme about their experience of the disgraceful and failed HS2 project," he added.

"People in my constituency want clarity, to be heard and to know that there will be no repeat of the distress they were forced to live with."

Alexander said she or the rail minister would meet with them to discuss their concerns and to find "a way forward".

Reuters Heidi Alexander - who has long greying hair and is wearing a grey coat over a dark jacket and a purple top - smiles as she walks down the street. — Heidi Alexander said NPR would create a "world-class growth corridor" in northern England

The first phase of the NPR scheme could see lines electrified and the construction of a new station in Bradford.

There would be upgrades to Leeds, York and Sheffield stations, with a new station for Rotherham also understood to be part of the plan.

Alexander said NPR would deliver faster, more frequent services, while unlocking jobs, homes and creating "a world-class growth corridor that people of the region need and deserve".

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