| Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “I welcome today’s announcement from the Prime Minister. HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail are crucial to level up the economy and provide vital upgrades to our creaking Victorian infrastructure. We must ensure they benefit South Yorkshire and unlock prosperity and better connectivity right across our region. |
| “The decision to review Phase 2b, which includes the route through South Yorkshire, gives us the opportunity to look again at the impact of HS2 on communities in our region. The Government needs to ensure this review is undertaken thoroughly but speedily so we can minimise disruption. I’m acutely aware that some of our local residents now face further uncertainty and are unable to plan for the future. I will be meeting with the Secretary of State today to discuss these matters in more detail. “We need urgent investment in South Yorkshire’s wider transport infrastructure so we see improvements in the short term. The Government must use the Budget to invest in shovel-ready projects in South Yorkshire. This means approving our full Transforming Cities funding bid, which will enable us to improve our rail, bus, walking and cycling network. We also need clarity on the Government’s plans to invest in buses so we can halt the decline in services in South Yorkshire.” |
