Council Leaders from across the North West have written to the Secretary of State outlining their collective ambition for the North West, stressing the need for large-scale strategic investment in regional transport and infrastructure.
The ambition is for the North West to have world class intercity transport, digital connectivity, and continuing radical devolution to build resilience and prosperity for the region. In the letter, Leaders set out a number of asks in relation to the Integrated Rail Plan, the Northern Transport Charter and the role of Transport for the North. Leaders also reflected their disappointment of the prioritisation of places to be levelled up, despite the continued and ongoing socio-economic challenges across the region.
The North West Regional Leaders Board represents the Leaders of the 41 local authorities across the region, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram.
Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council and Chair of the Board, said: “The core purpose of the Board is to help North West Mayors and Leaders to combine our efforts and work together to make the most of every opportunity for the North West as a whole, and it’s obviously great for us in St Helens to be playing a central role in this. I’m honoured to Chair the Board and to play a role in bringing people together.
“Significant and fair investment in transport infrastructure for the North West has to be a vital part of levelling up. We want to make sure all our communities have access to world class transport that supports sustainable economic growth, excellent quality of life and improved opportunities for all.
“It is disappointing that the Minister has ignored our request to discuss these issues further but we will continue to make the case at every level and in every way we can.”
Responding to the letter, Minister of State Andrew Stephenson MP said: “Improved working between rail and local leaders is one way in which we will achieve transformation of the industry. Our goal is to develop new partnerships between Great British Railways and local and regional government as appropriate. Delivery will be focused on strong regional divisions who will act as a single point of contact for local leaders.
“I recognise the important role that sub-national transport bodies play in providing a strategic pan-regional overview and providing a forum for both mayoral combined authorities and areas not led by mayors, including many local authorities you represent, to come together as one region.”
The North West Regional Leaders Board will continue to press the Government on this and other important issues for our region.
