City tells Transport Secretary to get on board with rail plans
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last night acknowledged the claims of Bradford to be included in Northern Powerhouse rail after a visit to the region.
The minister spent time at Leeds Bradford Airport and separately with the leader and chief executive of Bradford Council yesterday to hear about the transport priorities for the city.
Discussions had already been taking place with Transport for the North (TfN) to press Bradford’s case to be on the planned transpennine line, formerly known as HS3 but now labelled Northern Powerhouse rail.
Speaking at the Leeds Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, Mr Grayling said: “Top of TfN’s priority list is Northern Powerhouse rail – a plan for faster and more frequent services across the north between Liverpool, and Manchester and Leeds and Hull and Bradford and York.
“I’ve been talking today about Bradford and I’ve taken away the very clear message that we need to make sure that Bradford is a part of this project in a way that ensures it gets the productivity it needs.
“We’ve committed £60m on the development of this project and I’m waiting to see what TfN’s proposals are.”
His comments were welcomed privately by those close to the project and publicly by the President of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Gerald Jennings, who said his organisation was prepared to hold the Government to account.
“Listening to him, we were making sure we recorded what I understood to be some promises from the Secretary of State for transport and we expect him to deliver on those promises,” he said.
Mr Jennings added: “We hear regularly from members about their need to draw in talent from as wide a catchment area as possible, or move their goods and services to markets conveniently which is why transport remains a key priority for our lobbying activities. Access to talent and to markets is key to our future success.”
Mr Jennings also expressed his, and Chamber members, frustration at the lack of progress on “the now thorny issue of devolution” within the city region, more than two years after the Government agreed its first devolution deal with Manchester.
He said: “This time last year I said ‘it was disappointing to see discussions over devolution had become overtly political’ and I urged all parties to come together to ensure our region was not disadvantaged.
“Twelve months later and we remain behind the curve and seemingly we appear to be no nearer a solution, and speaking on behalf of our members I say this is no longer acceptable. Parochialism and party politics must be set aside for the greater good.”
