YP Comment: North has been under-funded

THE ambition was self-evident when Transport Secretary Chris Grayling set out his vision for Yorkshire at Leeds Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner last night. 'Great transport created the first Northern Powerhouse nearly two centuries ago,' said the Cabinet minister whose sentiments were greeted enthusiastically by those present. 'And it can create the second one in the future.'
Dominic Lipinski/PA WireDominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

“Great transport created the first Northern Powerhouse nearly two centuries ago,” said the Cabinet minister whose sentiments were greeted enthusiastically by those present. “And it can create the second one in the future.”

A detailed speech which chronicled the projects that are currently underway in Yorkshire, and which offered a strong defence of HS2, it was refreshing to hear such a senior Minister accept that “transport infrastructure across the North is not nearly good enough for a region with such incredible potential”.

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These are not The Yorkshire Post’s words, a regular critic of successive Governments when it comes to infrastructure investment. They are the words of the Cabinet minister tasked with delivering a world-class transport infrastructure.A particular focus is the urgent need to increase capacity on the trans-Pennine railway line, and links between the North’s major cities. Though £60m has been set aside for preliminary work, there is still a nagging belief that this scheme is not being treated with the same urgency as new transport schemes in London. Mr Grayling, this is your chance to silence the doubters.