Investment plea for cross-border routes

Shropshire Council, Herefordshire Council, Powys County Council and the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership have joined Midlands Connect to call for a joined-up plan for cross-border investment, saying Welsh/English transport corridors have 'fallen through the cracks' in the past.

In a letter to the Union Connectivity Review led by Sir Peter Hendy, the organisations say the The A5, A458 and the A483 provide a key economic corridor across the border, essential to Oswestry, Shrewsbury and neighbouring towns in Wales such as Welshpool and Newtown.

Rail lines in the region are also vital, they said.

In their letter they state: “These corridors have fallen through cracks in previous investment rounds due to different authorities and policies either side of the border.

"We must ensure that this doesn’t happen again in this area where rurality also hinders the investment programme. To overcome this we are working together to highlight the economic significance well connected infrastructure can bring and embrace the opportunity for investment in this region. This will only happen if partners across the border commit to working with Government to achieve this.”

The letter says that the proposed Pan-UK Strategic Transport Network must include Mid-Wales/Midlands strategic corridors.

Essential

It also wants the A41 and A49 that run through Shropshire to be included.

"The A49 provides an essential north-south spine road for both freight and passengers through the Marches region, which many residents and businesses from both sides of the border depend on for local, regional and national movements. The A41 has links with the A55 and Holyhead."

On rail projects the letter calls on the Government to look at the Cardiff/Newport to Chester/Crewe line via Shrewsbury line, Shrewsbury to Birmingham, the Cambrian Line and Heart of Wales line which both run through Shrewsbury.

A Union Connectivity Review by Sir Peter Hendy, the Network Rail chairman, is expected to be published by July 2021, and is believed to recommend higher capacity and improved journey times on train travel between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Mandy Thorn, chair of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said high-quality cross-border transport connectivity was vital for the economy of the whole area.

“The Marches LEP shares more than 100 miles of border with Wales, and it is essential that we have modern, efficient transport links in place which help the economies either side of it to grow and prosper.

“These transport links are the economic arteries of our region and we must ensure that they receive the necessary investment to be able to fulfil that strategic role. There is an urgent need to level-up connectivity and ensure that all areas have access to infrastructure which supports and promotes growth.”