Millions to improve local roads and buses after HS2 cancellation

Money that would have been spent on the HS2 rail project - most of which had already been scrapped in the Derby area[1] in 2021 anyway - is to be spent improving roads and public transport "benefiting more people, in more places, more quickly", according to the Government. A total of £9.6 billion will be heading towards the East Midlands, although it hasn't been broken down into local authority allocations.

The funding announcement was delivered following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak[2]'s not-surprising revelation on Wednesday (October 4) that the remaining northern leg of HS2 was no longer happening, blaming spiralling costs and severe delays for the decision. Roads Minister Richard Holden has been conducting a series of media interviews today (Thursday, October 5), explaining how the extra funding will benefit this area.

Details are scant currently but the main investment for the area is:

  • The new East Midlands combined authority, covering Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire - due to come into existence in May 2024 - will be given a transport investment fund of £1.5 billion. It could be used to connect Derby to East Midlands Parkway with a bus rapid transit system.
  • Funding package to tackle congestion and delays on A50/A500 corridor between Stoke and Derby, cutting congestion for the 90,000 drivers who use the road each day and ensuring smoother journeys for drivers and freight around Rolls Royce, Toyota, Magna Park, and other major local employers.
  • A £1.75 billion regional rail hub in Birmingham, benefiting more than 50 stations including Derby and Burton.
  • Stations and lines closed under the 1960s Beeching reforms will be reopened, including the Ivanhoe Line between Leicester and Burton, connecting 250,000 people across South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire, with new stations en route.
  • Funding will also be provided for the Barrow Hill Line between Chesterfield and Sheffield Victoria, with a new station at Staveley in Derbyshire.
  • £2.2 billion for the Midlands to combat the potholes causing misery for drivers.
  • £230 million will be invested in increasing the frequency of bus services in the Midlands and the popular £2 bus fare will also be extended until the end of December 2024, instead of rising to £2.50 as planned.

Mr Holden told Derbyshire Live that the £1.5 billion for the new Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire combined authority "was a very hefty chunk of funding" and that the new mayor when elected next year would be able to choose which projects will benefit locally.

POLL: Is the government doing enough to help with the cost of living?[3]

He said: "A considerable investment will go into improving the A50[4] right along the route in particular the junctions. There will also be improvements to the A5111 below Derby towards Leicester. Local authorities have traditionally had to put in a chunk of money into schemes like this but we will pay 100%, freeing up money for other local schemes.

"There will also be improvements around the M1 in the Chesterfield area, which will affect Derbyshire and improve the roads."

Mr Holden said that there would be extra cash going to local authorities to spend on mending potholes. He said: "We are also going to introduce a lane rental scheme in which the council can designate 5% of major roads in their area, which means utility companies have to pay councils for over-running works. This means the companies do the repairs better and quicker. We are also introducing fines for over-running works at weekends, when people drive past roadworks with no-one working on them."

There was encouraging news for people whose properties were compulsorily purchased for HS2 originally[5]. Mr Holden said: "The vast majority of people will be offered their property back at the price it was sold at on first refusal basis, if they want to do that."

Following the PM's announcement on HS2, East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Much like the trains travelling on our Victorian rail infrastructure, we find ourselves once again at a standstill, far away from the destination we want to reach and with next to no idea how we’re supposed to get there.

“Rail in our region has been a political hot potato for decades – we are still waiting for Midland Main Line electrification to be delivered and plans for the HS2 Eastern Leg were scaled back in the Integrated Rail Plan, resulting in areas like Chesterfield, Staveley and Toton losing out on significant economic regeneration benefits.

“This announcement damages confidence and has real-world impacts in terms of job creation and business investment, not to mention job retention among the numerous East Midlands businesses that play a key role in the HS2 supply chain."

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References

  1. ^ already been scrapped in the Derby area (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
  2. ^ Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
  3. ^ Is the government doing enough to help with the cost of living? (xd.wayin.com)
  4. ^ improving the A50 (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
  5. ^ compulsorily purchased for HS2 originally (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
  6. ^ the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)

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