HS2 Delay Must Trigger Barnett Consequential Funding for Wales

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated calls for Wales to receive consequential transport funding from HS2 following news that large sections of the rail line are to be delayed.

Key sections of the line from Manchester to Crewe and Birmingham to Crewe will now be delayed to “save money”.

To date, the UK Government has refused to release the estimated £5 billion in funding for transport Wales should be entitled to under the Barnett formula because the Conservative Government claims the rail line passes through Crewe which is close to the Welsh border. This is despite the fact it did release consequential funding for Scotland.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have claimed that with the section to Crewe now delayed, the Conservatives are out of flimsy excuses to deny Wales much-needed funding for public transport.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

“With this delay, the Conservatives are out of flimsy excuses to deny releases of this much-needed funding for public transport in Wales.

“We face a climate crisis and a cost of living crisis and improving public transport is key to tackling both of these. It is absolutely unacceptable the Conservatives continue to deny Wales the investment it needs to face these challenges head-on.

“Public transport in Wales is creaking under the pressure of decades of underinvestment and poor transport links are putting off investment in our economy. The Conservatives must now urgently correct their atrocious record on this issue.”

 

Please donate here: Support Carmarthenshire News Online Thank you for supporting independent journalism and contributing to the future of local news in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire News Online has been dedicated to providing unbiased and trustworthy news, free from commercial or political influence. By donating as little as £1, you can help ensure the continuation of this important source of information for the community. Your contribution will have a significant impact on the sustainability of independent journalism. If you're looking to enhance your brand's visibility, we also offer advertising opportunities on our Livestream and podcasts. Our special offers provide excellent value for reaching our engaged audience. To learn more about these opportunities and to discuss your advertising needs, please feel free to call or text us at 07308598604. Thank you again for your support, and together we can ensure the availability of quality local news for Carmarthenshire and beyond.

Please donate here: Support Carmarthenshire News Online

You cannot copy any content of this page