Latest news with #East-WestRail
Pembrokeshire Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Sex offender built patio illegally on ancient priory ruins
David Chadwick calls for rail powers to be devolved to Wales after confirmation East-West Rail brings no funding uplift WELSH Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has criticised the UK Government after it confirmed that Wales will receive no additional funding from the £6.6 billion East-West Rail scheme, which runs entirely between Oxford and Cambridge in England. Mr Chadwick uncovered the detail through a written parliamentary question answered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Simon Lightwood. The project has been classified as an 'England and Wales' scheme, despite not including any infrastructure in Wales — a classification that prevents Wales from receiving a proportional share of funding through the Barnett formula. Not happy over rail funding: Liberal Democrat, David Chadwick MP The issue mirrors the controversy over HS2, which was also designated as benefiting both England and Wales, even though the line does not extend into Welsh territory. Independent estimates suggest Wales could have received over £360 million in consequential funding from East-West Rail if it had been classified as 'England only.' Broader estimates indicate that similar misclassifications over the past decade may have cost Wales more than £4 billion in potential funding. In the House of Commons, Mr Chadwick described the decision as 'shocking,' and renewed calls for the devolution of full rail infrastructure powers to the Senedd. He argued that only through devolution can Wales prevent future misallocations and ensure investment in local lines such as the Heart of Wales Line. Speaking after the exchange, Mr Chadwick said: 'It is simply indefensible that Wales continues to be frozen out of hundreds of millions in rail funding for projects that do not lay a single centimetre of track in our country. We saw this with HS2, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, and now again with East-West Rail. Time after time, Wales is left behind.' He added: 'Wales must be able to invest properly in its own rail network. That includes delivering serious improvements to the Heart of Wales Line, which has been neglected for decades. This line is a lifeline for rural communities, supporting jobs, education and tourism, and it deserves the same level of ambition and investment as rail services elsewhere in the UK.' While critics point to a pattern of funding disparities, the UK Government maintains that major rail projects often bring broader economic benefits across the UK, including Wales — for example, through supply chains or job creation. However, Welsh politicians and transport experts have repeatedly argued that these indirect benefits do not match the level of direct investment seen in other parts of the union. The Welsh Government has long advocated for the devolution of rail infrastructure powers, which are currently reserved to Westminster. It has argued that devolution would enable more targeted investment in Wales's underfunded network — a view backed by a growing number of transport economists. Mr Chadwick and the Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for East-West Rail to be reclassified as an 'England only' scheme and for a fair funding settlement that reflects actual geographic delivery. They are also pressing for urgent investment in rural rail services, particularly the Heart of Wales Line, which connects Swansea to Shrewsbury via mid Wales.
Pembrokeshire Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
MP accuses government of rail funding bias as £6.6bn project excludes Wales
David Chadwick calls for rail powers to be devolved to Wales after confirmation East-West Rail brings no funding uplift WELSH Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has criticised the UK Government after it confirmed that Wales will receive no additional funding from the £6.6 billion East-West Rail scheme, which runs entirely between Oxford and Cambridge in England. Mr Chadwick uncovered the detail through a written parliamentary question answered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Simon Lightwood. The project has been classified as an 'England and Wales' scheme, despite not including any infrastructure in Wales — a classification that prevents Wales from receiving a proportional share of funding through the Barnett formula. Not happy over rail funding: Liberal Democrat, David Chadwick MP The issue mirrors the controversy over HS2, which was also designated as benefiting both England and Wales, even though the line does not extend into Welsh territory. Independent estimates suggest Wales could have received over £360 million in consequential funding from East-West Rail if it had been classified as 'England only.' Broader estimates indicate that similar misclassifications over the past decade may have cost Wales more than £4 billion in potential funding. In the House of Commons, Mr Chadwick described the decision as 'shocking,' and renewed calls for the devolution of full rail infrastructure powers to the Senedd. He argued that only through devolution can Wales prevent future misallocations and ensure investment in local lines such as the Heart of Wales Line. Speaking after the exchange, Mr Chadwick said: 'It is simply indefensible that Wales continues to be frozen out of hundreds of millions in rail funding for projects that do not lay a single centimetre of track in our country. We saw this with HS2, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, and now again with East-West Rail. Time after time, Wales is left behind.' He added: 'Wales must be able to invest properly in its own rail network. That includes delivering serious improvements to the Heart of Wales Line, which has been neglected for decades. This line is a lifeline for rural communities, supporting jobs, education and tourism, and it deserves the same level of ambition and investment as rail services elsewhere in the UK.' While critics point to a pattern of funding disparities, the UK Government maintains that major rail projects often bring broader economic benefits across the UK, including Wales — for example, through supply chains or job creation. However, Welsh politicians and transport experts have repeatedly argued that these indirect benefits do not match the level of direct investment seen in other parts of the union. The Welsh Government has long advocated for the devolution of rail infrastructure powers, which are currently reserved to Westminster. It has argued that devolution would enable more targeted investment in Wales's underfunded network — a view backed by a growing number of transport economists. Mr Chadwick and the Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for East-West Rail to be reclassified as an 'England only' scheme and for a fair funding settlement that reflects actual geographic delivery. They are also pressing for urgent investment in rural rail services, particularly the Heart of Wales Line, which connects Swansea to Shrewsbury via mid Wales.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oxbridge growth corridor 'to add £78bn to economy'
Proposals to link up Oxford and Cambridge will add up to £78bn to the UK economy by 2035, the chancellor has claimed. Connecting the university cities could create "Europe's Silicon Valley", Rachel Reeves said in her speech in Oxfordshire. The government wants thousands of homes and better transport links to be developed in the area between the cities. The chancellor also supported the construction of Abingdon Reservoir, though the 4.5 sq-mile (7sq km) project continues to be met with strong local opposition. Speaking at Siemens Healthineers in Eynsham the chancellor said the two university cities "offer huge economic potential for our nation's growth prospects". "Just 66 miles apart, these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world, and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI. "It has the potential to be Europe's Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation. "To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. "But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two-and-a-half hours. "Oxford and Cambridge are two of the least affordable cities in the UK. In other words, the demand is there but there are far too many supply side constraints on economic growth in the region." The announcements include: Nine new reservoirs, such as Fens Reservoir serving Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir Funding for East-West Rail, with new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes The development of new and expanded communities in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor A new Growth Commission for Oxford Appointment of Sir Patrick Vallance as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor champion to ensure the Government's ambitions are delivered Reacting to the speech, Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said the newly-announced Growth Commission would bring together central government, local authorities, businesses and universities to "tackle the barriers to economic growth". She added it would help the city "realise its full potential" and create secure "well-paid jobs for our children and grandchildren". Professor Alistair Fitt, chair of Arc Universities Group and vice chancellor at Oxford Brookes University, said the region "hosts a great diversity and scale of universities". "Together we offer a wide range of key contributions: globally renowned research brilliance, the powerhouse of skills provision provided by cutting edge teaching, world-class knowledge transfer and commercialisation," he said. In a joint statement Oxfordshire's MPs, Liberal Democrats Layla Moran, Olly Glover, Charlie Maynard, Freddie van Mierlo and Calum Miller said they were "pleased to hear the government's ambition to unleash our county's potential". "But growth needs to come along with huge investment in critical infrastructure," they added. "We need urgent action to fix our crumbling sewage system, support already overstretched GP and dentistry services, improve the electricity grid, and boost the active travel and rail network. "So we're pleased to see the government's commitment to East West Rail, but there is much further to go." Lisa Warne, director of CPRE Oxfordshire, said the countryside charity had "grave concerns about Labour's growth agenda, whether this is growth in housing, wind farms or reservoirs". While she welcomed plans for affordable homes and renewable energy, she said it could not be "at the expense of the countryside" and urged the government to build on brownfield sites. She called the announcement "nothing but a rehash of old policies". But Derek Stork, the chair of the Group against Reservoir Development, said the reservoir plans included in the announcement would be a "diversion of resources". "What we need is infrastructure fixing our leakages, and we need infrastructure to fix the sewage pollution that companies like Thames Water are dumping in our rivers." Sally Povolotsky, a district councillor who represents Steventon and the Hanneys, said the government was "ignoring the thousands of voices" who had taken part in a consultation. "This is just absolute insanity that the government can come along and kibosh everyone's rights to be able to speak and have their voice heard." Thames Water welcomed the government's plans which it said would secure the water supply for 15m people. "It will also enable us to meet the challenges ahead, such as a growing population and the effects of climate change. "We've also committed to halving leakage by 2050 and reducing demand for water." it added. Rachel Reeves announced the plans alongside a series of other major infrastructure projects, including plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Bethan Nimmo, BBC Oxford political reporter, said the announcement could mean "a real boost for jobs and prosperity". "The pressure is on to build more homes - and build them faster - as well as lab spaces and offices for the kind of companies that will drive this growth." "At the same time, many will look at all the green fields in Oxfordshire and wonder how many of those will make it to the other side of this kind of growth boom," she added. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Reeves expected to back Heathrow expansion plans Oxford-Cambridge arc has 'failed' - campaign group Step forward in plans to build new reservoir Reservoir plans spark 'disgust' among councillors
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reeves confronts Cabinet on airport expansion with ‘fight for growth'
Rachel Reeves will confront Cabinet opposition to the expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports with a warning that 'growth will not come without a fight'. The Chancellor is on Wednesday expected to announce support for significant increases in airport capacity alongside nine new reservoirs, thousands of new homes in Cambridge and a 'growth corridor' including road and rail upgrades to Oxford. Ms Reeves is to back airport expansion despite net zero opposition in Cabinet and on the Labour backbenches. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is a long-time opponent of a third runway at Heathrow and this week claimed it 'won't go ahead' unless it is compatible with strict carbon emissions rules. However, the Chancellor will say on Wednesday: 'Low growth is not our destiny. But growth will not come without a fight.' It comes after Sir Keir Starmer announced that all policies will face a test of whether they boost the economy on Tuesday. 'Rigorous assessments' will be carried out under a new system implemented by Sir Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary, to 'hard wire' growth into Whitehall. The shift immediately exposed rifts in Labour and sparked criticism from the party's backbenchers. One warned that any attempt by Sir Keir to water down plans to boost employment rights would spark a 'massive row'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman admitted within hours that not every proposal that harms growth will be vetoed. He was challenged on whether plans to ban new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, scale back junk food adverts, strengthen workers' rights or reduce net migration would be ditched. There was no indication those policies would be abandoned, however. The Chancellor will, on Wednesday, seek to focus attention to new projects and policies developed during Labour's economically bumpy first six months in power. In a speech in Oxfordshire, the Chancellor will promise to force through a building blitz to 'kickstart the economy' and banish fears of recession. Britain will get its first new reservoirs for more than 30 years under Ms Reeves's plans, amid worries the nation will run out of water in the 2030s without radical action. The Chancellor will promise nine new reservoirs as part of a £7.9bn investment spree from water companies, including the Fens Reservoir near Cambridge and the Abingdon Reservoir near Oxford. New road and rail links are also on the way for the wider region, including road improvements between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and more funds for East-West Rail – which seeks to join Cambridge and Oxford with fast direct services. She is also expected to back a third runway at Heathrow, to end a long-running dispute over the potential future growth of Britain's biggest airport. The proposals come as Britain risks recession, with stagnant economic growth, plunging business confidence and shrinking hiring in the wake of Ms Reeves's record tax-raising Budget in October. Mel Stride MP, Shadow Chancellor, said Sir Keir and Ms Reeves are to blame for the economy's predicament, arguing 'their Budget has killed growth stone dead, and that is even before their tax hikes start to bite in April.' 'The biggest barriers to growth in this country are Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer, and their job-destroying Budget,' he said. 'Hastily cobbled together announcements of growth in the 2030s will do nothing to help the businesses cutting jobs right now because of Labour's punishing jobs tax, the companies being crushed under their barrage of new regulations, or the farmers facing bankruptcy over the cruel family farm tax.' The Oxford to Cambridge corridor was previously targeted for major development by the Conservatives. The proposals, which included five new garden towns and expansion of Milton Keynes, were vetoed in 2018 by Theresa May over fears of a voter backlash against tens of thousands of new homes. A survey by the Confederation of British Industry this week showed companies are now cutting staff, moving jobs overseas and curbing investment as they battle to cut costs and offset the impact of the Chancellor's looming tax changes, ahead of the £25bn National Insurance raid which comes into force in April. Rain Newton Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), called the Chancellor's plans 'smart'. She said: 'A relentless focus on growth means making some bold moves, accepting trade-offs and taking risks. Leaders in boardrooms do that every day.' Sir Tim Martin, boss of JD Wetherspoon, said Ms Reeves's speech reflected 'a dawning realisation in Government that only growth produces prosperity and only free enterprise creates growth.' He called for the Chancellor to further and reverse some of the tax rises announced in October's Budget. Sir Tim said: 'Scrapping the tax rises would be a shot in the arm for beleaguered businesses and finding savings in public expenditure should be possible. Just do it, Keir.' Ben Fletcher, of manufacturing industry group Make UK, hailed the expansion of Heathrow. He said: 'Last year, over £200bn of British trade passed through Heathrow - more than double all other UK airports put together. Its unique mix of passenger and freight routes make it a vital infrastructure asset and one which is essential to power economic growth.' However, Ms Reeves's plans risk antagonising environmental campaigners and Labour backbenchers, as well as Cabinet colleagues. Dale Vince, a Labour donor, said Ms Reeves would be 'foolish' to put growth before net zero and approve expansion at Britain's major airports. The green energy tycoon told The Telegraph: 'It's clearly wrong to say we'll put growth before carbon emissions, because – my word – it will impair our drive to net zero so considerably.' Sir Keir Starmer's boast that he was 'hard-wiring growth into all the decisions of the Cabinet' has also triggered disquiet on Labour backbenches. The Prime Minister told business leaders in the City on Tuesday morning: 'Growth is the number one mission of this Government. Wealth creation and investment is what we mean by growth.' Sir Keir suggested he would block any policies that damage growth. However, the Prime Minister's official spokesman admitted that not every proposal that harms growth will be vetoed. They said: 'The Government is obviously always facing competing objectives. But overall, the Government is taking an approach that supports growth and supports the economy.' Specifically the spokesman was challenged on whether the Government's plans to ban new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, scale back junk food adverts, strengthen workers' rights or reduce net migration would be ditched given the growth focus. There was no indication those policies would be abandoned. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, warned that employment rights must not be 'sacrificed' as part of the growth drive. She said: 'Firstly, good employment rights and conditions improve productivity, reduce sickness and are good for business, so employment rights should not be sacrificed as they support growth. Secondly, achieving net zero has to be a fundamental part of growth, if not, we will experience greater risk at home and globally.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Palmer residents push to keep rail station downtown
PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) – We continue our coverage of the latest developments of the East-West Rail as part of the overall Compass Rail project after speaking with Palmer residents who are advocating for the construction of a station downtown. MassDOT recently determined that the historic site was not a viable location—a decision these residents hope the state will reconsider. A group of Palmer residents are continuing their fight to make the former Palmer Union Station—which is now a restaurant— a travel hub as part of the state's Compass Rail Project. As MassDOT eyes locations outside of downtown Palmer, concerns are growing that the city could miss out on an economic boost. Scarlet Lamothe, member of the Central Rail Passenger Coalition, told 22News, 'I give the prime example of the Windsor Locks Station. They had their station stop right off of 91, it was very easy to park and get off but there was no actual revenue that came into Windsor Locks at all. It became a dying downtown. They were very upset with what had occurred that so much money was associated with that train stop and they received nothing.' In MASSDOT's most recent meeting in Palmer, this location along with several others was eliminated for not meeting technical requirements. A MassDOT rep explained to 22News that the rail corridor width adjacent to the former Palmer Union Station is too narrow to accommodate the minimum infrastructure requirements for a new station. A group of Palmer residents is asking others to call on state and federal lawmakers to make sure the station stays downtown. 'If it's not in our downtown then we are just looking at parking lots filled in Palmer and there is going to be no economic benefit to our community or the surrounding region at all,' Lamothe adds. MassDOT will soon release information about the preferred station location which is based on evaluation criteria and public feedback. The project is expected to conclude this summer, resulting in a conceptual design, environmental scoping for future permitting, and a market analysis to evaluate development potential. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
