Addressing rural transport connectivity has always been a top priority for me as local MP, which is why I am pleased to see that last week, Cornwall Council submitted its
£50million Mid Cornwall Metro Levelling up Fund bid.
Rail services have historically struggled in rural areas such as Cornwall, facing profitability issues and threats of closure. Thankfully, we have seen significant improvements to our rail network across Cornwall, with a half-hourly service between Plymouth and Penzance, faster journeys from London and an upgraded Night Riviera Sleeper service.
However, many issues remain. People in Cornwall have a high dependency on road transport and car ownership, existing public transport options are still limited, and current rail infrastructure is underutilised. Cornwall also suffers from significant increases in summer traffic, increasing journey times and congestion, and long-distance trains to Newquay currently displace local services.
Addressing these issues with our rail system is crucial if we are to improve access to new housing, higher education, and better jobs in areas of low wages and productivity. Improving rail services is also key boosting inward investment and reducing road congestion.
The Government’s Levelling Up Fund is designed to address these challenges by investing in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK. The £4.8 billion fund brings together the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Treasury to invest £4.8 billion in high-value local infrastructure. In doing so, it removes silos between departments, allowing areas to focus on the highest priority local projects rather than shaping projects to fit into narrowly defined pots of funding.
Since my election in 2019, I have been pleased to back the ambitious Mid Cornwall Metro (MCM) bid - an ambitious scheme that will serve a population of over 180,000 people within 4km of a railway station. The project will connect four of Cornwall’s largest towns, coast to coast - linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth with a direct rail line. This will provide a 50% increase in services between Par, St Austell and Truro and allow people in Truro quicker access to our beautiful coasts. The project will also provide a route for people in Falmouth and Penryn to Newquay and the many excellent leisure opportunities on the north coast.
The project will also deliver a range of other improvements by 2025, including providing all-year local services, additional Newquay to London services over summer, and improved active travel between Falmouth, Penryn and the university campuses.
The scheme is accompanied by supporting measures that will significantly enhance the benefits of the rail infrastructure investment across the mid-Cornwall area and beyond. This includes providing a new platform at Newquay, extending the platforms at Falmouth stations, upgraded level crossings, and the digitalisation of rail tickets to make our ticketing system easier and more accessible.
The scheme attracts support from all stakeholders, including those within the rail industry, and has the potential to address long term economic challenges across mid Cornwall in line with the Levelling Up agenda – which include improved connectivity with better access to education and jobs, and reducing dependency on private car usage.
By connecting four of Cornwall’s largest towns, coast to coast, the MCM will also support new inward investment opportunities in Mid-Cornwall and the tourist industry, contributing millions in direct spending and supporting thousands of jobs across the Dutchy. In Truro and Falmouth/Penryn alone, the MCM will serve 2.2 million visitors annually, businesses that collectively turn over £177 million in turnover, and directly support 1,551 local jobs.
I hope that the bid is well received by the LUF team so that we can deliver this scheme that will have a transformational impact on accessibility for my constituency and across Cornwall. If successful, the works will be completed by December 2023, with new services in operation by January/February 2024.
As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.
No comments:
Post a Comment