Mayor pledges full consultation on new rail link amid criticism
The Mayor of the West Midlands has vowed that everyone will have a voice in plans for a new rail link between the Midlands and North.
Richard Parker and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, had come under fire from Alan White, leader of Staffordshire County Council, after an alleged lack of engagement over the Midlands-Northwest Rail Link (MNWRL) last month. The 80km rail line proposed by a private sector consortium would connect the Midlands with northern towns and cities and replace the now-cancelled HS2 phase 2a.
In an open letter to the two metro mayors, White said it was “disappointing and somewhat surprising” that there had been no attempt to discuss plans with the council, especially as the route “cuts through forty miles of Staffordshire countryside”.
White said: “Like you, I want to see growth, new jobs and opportunities for people across the Midlands and beyond, but this is not just about city regions, it includes Staffordshire and the 867,000 people who live here.”
He believes that Staffordshire should have its say on any proposals going forward through “meaningful consultation and engagement” and has asked that the business case for growth be shared “urgently”.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands told TheBusinessDesk.com: “I understand the concerns raised by Staffordshire County Council and the turmoil and upheaval caused by the previous Conservative Government. I want to reassure residents that the next steps for this project will involve a full consultation process, ensuring that everyone affected has a voice.
“The rail link presents a valuable opportunity to improve connections, but it must be done in a way that benefits all communities, including those in Staffordshire. I’m committed to working closely with all parties to ensure the best outcome for everyone involved.”
The MNWRL would be an alternative route between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting the Midlands to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with the potential to add up to £70bn annually to the West Midlands and Greater Manchester economies and yield up to £24bn in revenue per year for the Exchequer.
Commissioned by the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, the project focused on plans for a new rail link, after former HS2 boss Sir David Higgins worked alongside Arup, Arcadis, EY, Skanska, Dragados, Addleshaw Goddard and Mace to assess three options to alleviate a congested West Coast Mainline and boost connectivity.
The group says the line could deliver 85% of the benefits that were originally envisioned for the now-cancelled HS2 Phase 2 but at 60-75% of the cost.
It has been deemed by the consortium as the “only suitable option for attracting private finance” and could save the taxpayer £2bn on costs from the HS2 Phase 2 cancellation. Land, powers and design work could be reused which were already secured through public investment.
Future congestion on the West Coast Main Line and M6 corridor – the most heavily-used freight corridor in the nation, would also be alleviated.
