Responses to HS2 Review
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee and Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the NP11 Board and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, respond to Government review of HS2
21 August 2019
Responding to the Government's announcement of a review of HS2, Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“I am deeply disappointed that the Government is putting a question mark against the future of HS2 in the context of an ongoing gulf in transport investment between the North and London.
“HS2 is fundamental to rebalancing the economy and addressing the poor connections between cities in the North and Midlands which act as a significant brake on our economies. Given HS2’s potential to deliver 40,000 jobs directly, and a further 50,000 through productivity and regeneration benefits, to the Leeds City Region, we will be delivering a clear message that this project must be delivered in full.
“It is essential the review concludes quickly and removes the damaging uncertainty around this project which is central to our plans for future growth which benefits all our communities.”
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the NP11 Board and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said:
“The additional capacity and faster journey times offered by HS2, integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail and the existing network, are fundamental to the North’s ambitions to deliver extraordinary inclusive growth that will benefit all in society.
“This review is an opportunity to underline the importance of HS2 to rebalancing and strengthening the UK economy and to work with Government to identify ways the project can deliver even more for the North of England.”