When will we be on the crucial corridor, leader asks council leader

Council leader Tudor Evans has asked for a progress report on calls for the city to be part of the Strategic National Corridor network.

And he is urging the Secretary of State for Transport to include the request as part of a new ‘back to the basics’ look of what UK Plc needs to be economically strong and successful.

Councillor Evans said:  “I have written – again – to the minister asking him where we are with this request.

“With the Treasury publishing its ‘Fixing the foundations; creating more prosperous nation’ paper, surely now is the time to revisit these national corridors? 

“The connectivity, condition and capacity of the country’s transport network are all under the spotlight, recognising its importance to resurgent cities and rebalancing the economy away from one that is so skewed toward London and the south east.

“The report also mentions a new long term National Infrastructure Plan for economic infrastructure sectors including transport, energy and flood.

“It strikes me that now is the ideal time to put Plymouth on the Strategic National Corridors network. As the 15th largest city and one with the largest naval base in Europe – I still can’t get my head round why Plymouth was left off and that the network stopped at Exeter.”

The letter also reiterates the Peninsula Rail Task Force 3-Point Plan for investment in rail by Government. It calls for a service that is:

•           Resilience and reliable
•           Faster journey times and better connectivity
•           Sufficient capacity and comfort

Councillor Evans said: “The inclusion of our core road and rail routes in the network would help reposition the South West in the national mind set.”

He added:  “We will get on that minister’s map.”