Metro mayor in bid to boost transport
HALTON residents stand to benefit from the inaugural Convention Of The North as the Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region seeks to improve transport links in the area.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, accompanied by Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, had a simple message for central Government as he travelled to the convention in Newcastle on Thursday, September 6: “It is time to make ‘ Crossrail For The North’ a reality.”
The Government’s flagship Northern Powerhouse rail project, dubbed ‘Crossrail For The North’, was one of the topics for discussion as business and elected leaders came together in Newcastle to create a single voice for the North of England.
Ahead of the convention, Mr Rotheram said: “The UK is the most politically centralised and economically imbalanced country in the western world.
“Northern leaders coming together through the Convention Of The North give us a powerful voice with which to make the argument for more pow- ers and funding to achieve our economic potential.
“Mayor Anderson and I will be vigorously lobbying Government to commit to supporting the whole of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, including a twin-track rail link from Liverpool to Manchester, linking into HS2, as well as a brand new station in Liverpool City Centre.”
Mr Anderson said: “Increased investment in ● transport infrastructure is one of the top priorities for our city and it’s vital that central Government commit to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in its entirety, starting with a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester.”
“Northern Powerhouse Rail would hugely improve connectivity across the North, expanding freight and passenger capacity, as well as cutting journey times, which will boost not just our economy but that of the whole of the North of England.”
Some 200 employers, community leaders, cultural groups and unions were due to join with council leaders and metro mayors at the Convention Of The North to set out how they can work with the Government on the challenges and opportunities facing the region, and what the North needs to be able to best support the UK economy.
The debates included the next steps needed to keep momentum building on the devolution agenda, as well as how the North can take a bigger role in ensuring local interests are able to shape the skills agenda. Representatives were alsao to discuss the impact of Brexit on the North and the regional economic considerations which will need to factor in to Government planning.