MP dismisses claim plan for new station to be axed
SUGGESTIONS that a planned new rail station in Blyth Valley could be axed have been “blown out of all proportion”, according to a local MP.
The Chronicle reported last week that officials have been ordered to scale back plans for the planned Northumberland rail line between Newcastle and Ashington.
It’s an attempt to cut the cost of the proposed new line. And it means a planned new station near Bebside, Blyth Valley could be cancelled.
But Blyth Valley MP Conservative Ian Levy pointed out that no final decision had been taken.
He suggested there were compelling arguments for building the station, including the role it could play supporting the planned Britishvolt car battery gigafactory.
He said: “A cost challenge exercise which is standard practice for projects has been blown out of all proportion with a number of points not reported.
“Two of those are that Bebside has a compelling case as a strategic park and ride site and that it will support the Conservative County Council backed Britishvolt proposal to bring up to 8,000 jobs to the area.” Labour politicians had criticised the prospect of losing the Bebside station.
But Mr Levy said: “The facts are clear, and the Conservative Government and county council are delivering for South East Northumberland residents following decades of empty talk from Labour.
“The Government has committed £34m to the project to rapidly progress the development of six stations with five of those in Northumberland.
“Planning applications for four of those stations at Ashington, Bedlington, Bebside and Northumberland Park have already been submitted and the remaining two applications for Newsham and Seaton Delaval will follow next month. “The project is therefore progressing very much as planned.”
Mr Levy said: “However, the most disappointing aspect is that details of a run of the mill meeting involving council officers and Government officials have seemingly been leaked to the press in a clumsy attempt to score political points.
“The reality is that nothing has changed and criticism from local
Labour politicians who delivered no progress at all on the project is somewhat ironic.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced in January that the Government would provide £34m towards re-opening the Northumberland Line between Newcastle and Ashington.
The money will pay for preparatory work, including land acquisition, detailed design work and early site works, paving the way for the line to re-open for passenger services after it was closed in the 1960s. Passenger trains are expected to start running in 2024.
New stations were planned at Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham and Seaton Delaval. Trains will connect with the Metro at Northumberland Park, in North Tyneside.
Under the plan, planning permission for the station would still be sought, so that it could be built in the future if money becomes available.
But the Government ordered a review of new rail projects, which it says is designed to cut costs and ensure they can be delivered sooner.
In a meeting with Treasury officials and Andrew Gilligan, Boris Johnson’s transport adviser, officials from Northumberland County Council were told to find savings. Options included cutting passenger services from two trains per hour to one, or cutting a planned station.
An account of the private meeting seen by The Chronicle shows that officials agreed to draw up detailed proposals to remove Blyth Bebside Station from the scheme.
The account warns that this would risk “reputational damage from such a significant scope change”, and points out that land for the station has already been acquired by the council.
Under the plan, planning permission for the station would still be sought, so that it could be built in the future if money becomes available.
The reality is that nothing has changed Blyth Valley Conservative MP Ian Levy