Yorkshire businesses have written an open letter to the
Chancellor calling on them to back the recently published
Yorkshire's Plan for Rail, led by Lord .
They want to see major new investment in rail to improve
connectivity within Yorkshire and to other parts of the North and
South to help businesses grow and offer more opportunities for
jobs and training.
Business leaders including CEOs and Directors at Magtec,
Westfield Health, University of Bradford, Yorkshire Building
Society, Virgin Media O2, Stephen Joseph Theatre and Community
First Yorkshire, Business Advisory Board Chairs and Chambers of
Commerce have united to show their support for improving
transport connectivity in a region that has been under invested
in for decades.
The Blunkett review was commissioned by Yorkshire Mayors , and as part of the White Rose
Agreement. The White Rose region of South Yorkshire, West
Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire represents a population of
4.6 million and 190,000 businesses.
Yorkshire's Plan for Rail found that targeted rail investment
including new stations, more capacity and electrification, has
the potential to add £20 billion to the region's economy, could
help generate an extra 83,000 jobs, and contribute to the
building of 210,000 new homes over ten years. This would be a big
win for Yorkshire and businesses.
The letter states:
“We know improving rail infrastructure requires significant
funding, but we strongly believe that by prioritising investment
in Yorkshire rail infrastructure in the Spending Review will be a
downpayment on improving economic growth and helping businesses
and people to thrive.”
South Yorkshire Business Advisory Board Co-Chairs, Tariq Shah OBE
and Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE said they also fully supported
Lord Blunkett's review and the benefits that it would bring to
South Yorkshire businesses and their current and future
workforce.
Tariq Shah, also CEO of Vigo Group, added:
"Rail connectivity isn't just about transport, it's about
opportunity. Getting South Yorkshire back on track with
investment in our rail infrastructure is a vital step in driving
long term economic growth and improving access to jobs, education
and innovation in our region.
“This is a region with huge potential. The investment is
significant, but the positive impact of this investment will be
far greater. This is not just a transport investment, it's a
statement of ambition for our place."
Louisa Harrison-Walker, who is also CEO of Sheffield Chamber of
Commerce, added:
“This review provides the practical improvements which would make
a real difference to our communities.
“Getting Sheffield Station ready for the future, line
electrification and bringing Rotherham back to the mainline are
all programmes to support businesses and people to thrive and
help ensure our region can play a major role in the country's
economic growth.”
Jennifer Wood, Chair of York and North Yorkshire Business Board
said:
“I welcome this review led by , David and the other mayors
and hope this collaborative approach delivers enormous success.
“Connecting our communities via better rail connectivity is vital
for growth in York and North Yorkshire.
“We have some incredibly talented businesses and people within
our region, and they shouldn't be stopped in their tracks due to
the current poor rail systems, which makes it difficult to travel
in and out of the region for jobs, education and opportunity.
“I look forward to seeing the government prioritise this
important issue, supporting Yorkshire, the North and the country
to thrive.”
Caroline Routh, Executive Director at Stephen Joseph Theatre in
Scarborough, said:
“The fact that we have only one train an hour between York and
Scarborough is very limiting; we have audience members leaving
before the end of a show so they don't miss their train and then
have to wait an hour for the next one.
“That potential hour wait is not going to encourage anyone to
visit, or to come back.
“Around 80 per cent of our audiences travel by car because
there's not a viable alternative, making this the biggest
contributor to our carbon footprint. More frequent rail services
would really help to reduce this.”
Mandy Ridyard, Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said:
“For our region's ambitious growth plans to succeed, we need a
transport system that gets people to where they need to be.
“Greater connectivity is the key to unlocking opportunities for
people and businesses, and investment into vital new
infrastructure will be transformative.
“This is a superb example of our business community's commitment
to collaboration and championing a region that works for all.”
Patricia Cobian, Virgin Media O2's Chief Financial Officer, said:
“Virgin Media O2 support Lord Blunkett's Rail Review and back the
Yorkshire Mayors call on the government for investment in
Yorkshire's rail network.
“As a significant investor in the region's telecommunications
infrastructure, we know all too well the importance of
connectivity in driving economic growth.
“We have large regional offices in both Leeds and Sheffield
employing a considerable amount of people across the region.
“A reliable rail network is crucial for our people to commute to
work and to connect with colleagues and customers across the
country.”
