Rachel has welcomed Government investment in the local transport network following a parliamentary debate.
On Wednesday (May 8th), Rachel held a Westminster Hall debate on Government funding for transport in the West Midlands.
Ahead of the debate, Rachel asked residents to share their views on the local transport network which she then put directly to the Transport Minister, Huw Merriman, during the debate.
Improving local transport is one of Rachel’s top priorities, and progress is being made in achieving this as was highlighted during the debate.
The Transport Minister confirmed that, following the reallocation of HS2 funding, Worcestershire County Council has received an extra £2.3 million this year to resurface local roads, including an £842,000 investment in Redditch to treat more than two and a half miles of carriageway.
Councils will also be receiving a share of the brand-new £4.7 billion Local Transport Fund – with Worcestershire receiving £209 million of additional funding over the next seven years as a result. The Local Transport Fund aims to help to improve connectivity between and within towns and cities, while improving everyday journeys for local people.
The Government is also backing local bus services too, with the Minister confirming that reallocated H2S funding has supported the extension of the popular £2 bus fare cap and allocated £230 million to increase the frequency of bus services. For Worcestershire that means more than £2.8 million to deliver its Bus Service Improvement Plan, and there is also £3.4 million redirected from HS2.
Many residents also use the train, and the Minister set out how Redditch will directly benefit from the Midlands Rail Hub. The Hub will see the cross-city line return to six trains per hour in total, including three to Redditch. This is something Rachel has consistently lobbied for and she has asked the Minister to come back to her on when train users can expect to benefit from more frequent services.
Transport Minister Huw Merriman said: “I congratulate my Honourable Friend the Member for Redditch on involving her constituents in this entire debate. That is democracy in action. She said that she wanted to hear what more the Government are doing to support local transport, and that she wanted to share her constituents’ views with me. She has certainly done that.
“On 4 October, the Prime Minister announced the £36 billion plan to improve our country’s transport. The resurfacing fund is £8.3 billion of investment in highway maintenance. The fund means all highway authorities in England will receive their biggest funding boost in over a decade. Authorities will have been able to make an immediate start on the resurfacing of their roads. Worcestershire County Council is receiving over £2.3 million this year, with plans under way to apply surfacing treatments to more than 13 miles of road, including an £842,000 investment in Redditch to treat more than two and a half miles of carriageway.
“Let us not forget the trains. Network North committed £1.75 billion to deliver the Midlands Rail Hub in full. In February, the Secretary of State for Transport announced £123 million to fund and design the first phase of the Midlands Rail Hub. That work will also include benefits for the cross-city line from Redditch to Birmingham. Network North investment will see the cross-city line return to six trains per hour in total, including three to Redditch. My Honourable Friend the Member for Redditch has pushed and asked for that, and I can give her that commitment.”
Following the debate, Rachel said: “I said I wanted to hear more from the Government about what it is doing to support local transport in my constituency, and we got exactly that from the Transport Minister.
“As the vast majority of my constituents rely on their cars to get around, I’m pleased to see the relocated HS2 money is being invested in our roads – and this money is already being put to good use in Redditch. I will continue to ensure our constituency receives its fair share of this multi-million Government funding.
“Bus services are vital too for many of my constituents, and again Government funding is being used to support these routes to ensure residents can get to work, school and GP appointments.
“And, as the Minister confirmed, Redditch will also directly benefit from the Midlands Rail Hub, with more trains per hour from Redditch which will be a great addition to the brand-new Railway Station being developed by the County Council.
“There is of course always more to do, but I’m pleased to be making progress on my plan to improve local transport.”
You can watch Rachel’s full speech by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHY2z5m3mp0&t=3s
