North West to get nearly £1.5 billion to spend on transport
The cash, aimed at more rural areas and towns, comes from the cancelled leg of HS2
The North West is set to be given nearly £1.5billion from the government to fund better transport in the region.
The cash will be given to local leaders in smaller cities, towns and rural areas to improve road and rail links. It can also be used on things like more EV charging points, and making pavements safer.
The new investment - announced as part of Network North - will deliver long term funding uplift across the region over seven years.
The government claims it will give local authorities long term certainty to invest in projects, and can be used on things like:
- Building new roads and improving junctions
- Improving roads by filling in potholes
- Better street lighting
- Increasing the number of electric vehicle chargepoints
- Refurbishing bus and rail stations
Councils will have to work with local MPs, and are also expected to public their delivery plans to make sure the projects are kept on track
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
“Today’s £1.48 billion investment is truly game-changing for the smaller cities, towns, and rural communities across the North West, and is only possible because this Government has a plan to improve local transport and is willing to take tough decisions like reallocating funding from the second phase of HS2.
“This new funding boost will make a real difference to millions of people in the North West, empowering local authorities to drive economic growth, transform communities, and improve the daily transport connections that people rely on for years to come.”
However, Labour have accused the Government of having the "brass neck" to speak about "transformation" to transport services in the Midlands and North after "countless broken promises to do just that".
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: "The Tories have failed and local people are sick and tired of this Government taking them for fools.
"Only the Conservatives could have the brass neck to promise yet another 'transformation' of transport infrastructure in the Midlands and North after 14 years of countless broken promises to do just that."