YP Letters: Elected Yorkshire mayor could lead transport revolution

ONE North, yes. One Yorkshire, no. Here is the position of 
the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (SRCA) 
with support for the former, 
but rejection of the latter embracing a single elected 
major for the whole of Yorkshire on the basis of county-wide differences.

Differences exist everywhere, even locally, and we can confirm this is a feature that has been conveniently ignored.

It is over a decade since Barnsley was classified as a commuting borough, but inequality remains.

Commuters from Elsecar and Wombwell enjoy a first train arrival in Sheffield a staggering 95 minutes earlier than their commuting cousins in Penistone, Silkstone Common and Dodworth.

It is because of the Penistone Line being disadvantaged like this for many years that we would welcome a single elected mayor for Yorkshire in the hope that such a structure would offer a supplement to Rail North to deliver imagination and investment which is vital to our neglected route.

We also contend that a devolved Yorkshire would yield the reinistatement of the Northern Electrification Task Force package.

A single Yorkshire authority given its population and size would boast enormous clout matching that found in Scotland. It would be able to mount campaigning and lobbying on a massive scale and because of its economic and political muscle it would enable it to resist attempts at manipulation by George Osborne.

Through its bid, the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority virtually vindicated the Prime Minister with his “Yorkshiremen hate each other” remarks. They don’t, but the level of co-operation between them leaves much to be desired. The Penistone Line provides a classic example of such. Rather than citing differences across Yorkshire, why didn’t the SCRA identify common ground instead? Does unity is strength no longer apply?

Will the SCRA now consider a different train of thought given concerns (The Yorkshire Post, December 3) over the proposed deal? Who would they feel more comfortable with in the Northern Powerhouse, the spin of Mr Osborne or the substances of a deal constructed along with their Yorkshire colleagues? At this late stage is there any chance of an outbreak of common sense for the collective good of all of Yorkshire?