Aylesbury's infrastructure is 'at breaking point'

MP Rob Butler has called again for East West Rail to be confirmed for the town

Author: Dan GoodingPublished 20th Apr 2021

Aylesbury's MP has asked again for the government to confirm the town's connection to East West Rail.

Rob Butler called on the Housing Secretary to give the area more funding for infrastructure projects, arguing the rail link up to Winslow would help ease congestion.

Robert Jenrick told him he understands how important investment is and that he supports East West Rail.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Rob said:

“Aylesbury has seen unprecedented housing growth over the last 25 years and we'll see much more in the years to come.

"Our infrastructure is currently at breaking point with traffic congestion a real problem for local people. One way of alleviating this would be approval of the Aylesbury spur of East-West Rail, so what steps can my Right Honourable Friend take to work across Government, and perhaps particularly with the Treasury, to secure funding for this vital link to ensure that housing development is matched by the appropriate infrastructure?”

Work is underway on the Oxford-Milton Keynes stretch of the line

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP replied:

“My Honourable Friend is right to highlight the need for transport infrastructure investment in the Milton Keynes-Oxford-Cambridge Arc, which is one of the fastest-growing and most economically dynamic parts of the country.

“I understand how important the connection is to his constituents and I know that he's met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Rail Minister to make the case for connecting Aylesbury to East-West Rail, an overall project that I've been a long-term supporter of.

“He's right that more homes require more infrastructure and that's why we have a £7 billion National Home Building Fund alongside the new Infrastructure Levy proposed to capture more of the land value uplift and ensure that when homes are built, they're built with the appropriate infrastructure as well.”

Rob has previously raised the East-West rail Aylesbury link in Parliament with the Transport Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP.

Speaking after yesterday's question, Rob said:

“It is absolutely essential that we get much better transport connections to support our ever-expanding town.

"We know that many more houses will be built in the years ahead, so it is only right to ask for help from the Housing Minister when it comes to getting the cash from the Government. I hope the Chancellor was listening and will agree to fund this vital piece of infrastructure that would make Aylesbury an even better place to live, work, visit and invest.”

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