<\/p>\n
[from the Huffington Post,\u00a031\/07\/2017]<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/anger-north-south-transport-spending-divide-59-billion-a-decade_uk_597ec9ade4b0da64e87a2145<\/a><\/p>\n The government faces a backlash from angry northern commuters over transport spending<\/p>\n The\u00a0Conservative Party\u00a0is facing a growing backlash from angry northern commuters after it was revealed that the north of England has seen \u00a359 billion less in transport spending compared to London over the last ten years.<\/p>\n Almost 35,000 people have signed a petition demanding more investment outside the capital amid a row over a North-South divide in government spending, with organisers claiming its success \u201clays bare the real anger in the north\u201d about recent developments.<\/p>\n Last week, transport secretary\u00a0Chris Grayling\u00a0announced government support for a \u00a330 billion Crossrail 2 scheme for London just days after axing or downgrading rail projects in Wales, the Midlands and the North,\u00a0the Press Association reported.<\/p>\n Meanwhile,\u00a0figures published by the Institute of Public Research (IPPR) North revealed that the area is \u201cunderfunded\u201d by almost \u00a36 billion a year compared to London.<\/p>\n Separate analysis claimed that the vast majority of Department for Transport staff work in the capital and the south east, leading to an \u201cinstitutional bias\u201d that \u201cpatronises\u201d northern commuters.<\/p>\n Leaders in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle say Grayling had created \u201cconsiderable uncertainty\u201d and raised fears about the future of the Northern Powerhouse and the government\u2019s aim of rebalancing the UK economy.<\/p>\n Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram plan to convene a summit for northern political and business leaders in late August, before the return of Parliament.<\/p>\n IPPR director Ed Cox, who organised the petition, said the Department for Transport (DfT) \u201cjust isn\u2019t listening\u201d and called on the government to \u201cdeliver on its previous promises\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIts response has been to patronise northern commuters up-in-arms as mouthy troublemakers who need a good lecture on London\u2019s special transport needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Government keeps saying that London businesses will pay half of Crossrail 2, but it\u2019s being tin-eared on calls for the North to get these investment-raising powers too.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Cox added:<\/p>\n \u201cNorthern businesses would like to contribute but we need Transport for the North to get the powers TfL has to raise investment for essential infrastructure.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But the DfT insisted money for the north is not being cut, despite the fact earlier pledges to electrify trans-Pennine rail lines to improve speed and capacity are now in doubt.<\/p>\n Instead, new \u201cbi-mode\u201d trains which run on diesel and electricity are planned. Critics say electric trains are faster, cleaner and greener.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the DfT said in a statement:<\/p>\n \u201cBuilding transport infrastructure has the potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and spread wealth across the country. That\u2019s why we\u2019re spending \u00a357 billion on HS2, which will better connect Manchester and Leeds to the Midlands and London.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also why we\u2019re committed to improving trans-Pennine services, and are working with Transport for the North to cut journey times and increase capacity between the major cities of the north.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are currently investing over \u00a31 billion to improve rail infrastructure across the North of England, and major upgrades to the Manchester \u2013 Leeds \u2013 York route are being designed and developed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also investing \u00a3800 million on new road schemes in the North West, creating around 600 jobs \u2013 including upgrading the M62 to a four-lane smart motorway.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n They continued:<\/p>\n \u201cIn spending taxpayers\u2019 money, it\u2019s vital for the government to deliver value for the whole country.<\/p>\n \u201cSo while we have agreed to work further with Transport for London on Crossrail 2, we have also said that London needs to pay half of the upfront construction costs and we have not committed any public funding yet.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [from the Huffington Post,\u00a031\/07\/2017] http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/anger-north-south-transport-spending-divide-59-billion-a-decade_uk_597ec9ade4b0da64e87a2145 The government faces a backlash from angry northern commuters over transport spending The\u00a0Conservative Party\u00a0is facing a growing backlash from angry northern commuters after it was revealed that the north of England has seen \u00a359 … Continue reading