Chancellor scraps major West Country infrastructure plans
Rachael Reeves says "if we cannot afford it, we cannot do it"
Last updated 29th Jul 2024
Two major infrastructure projects in the West Country are being scrapped by the new Labour government, with the Chancellor claiming there is not enough money to pay for them.
Rachael Reeves gave a speech in the House of Commons earlier (29th July), in which she claimed the previous Conservative government had covered up a £22 billion black hole in the nation's finances, which now needs addressing urgently.
As part of her speech she said plans to build a tunnel on the A303 under Stonehenge and to reopen several old train lines nationwide including one between Bristol and Portishead, will now not happen.
Suggestions of the Chancellor's impending announcement were first reported by The Sunday Times, with new North Somerset MP commenting that he was "distressed" by the suggestion the Portishead plans could be scrapped.
In a letter written to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and the Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh, he said: "This project has been long awaiting in the area and will help connect our Portishead and Pill towns to the rail network via Bristol. I would like to raise my concern to both of you about this issue..."
In a statement released since the Chancellor's statement, a spokesperson for North Somerset Council says the authority "remains committed" to reopening the Portishead line.
"The Portishead to Bristol rail line is one of the Department for Transport’s Restoring Your Railway projects and is part of the MetroWest programme," the statement reads.
"By connecting 50,000 residents back into the rail network with stops at Portishead and Pill, the line stands to be transformative for North Somerset and the wider area, providing regular, sustainable transport and greater access to regional growth."
Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Major Projects, said: “The Portishead to Bristol rail line is a hugely important scheme for us and one that will make a significant difference to the lives of local people, both now and in the future.
“We remain absolutely committed to reopening the line and Network Rail were shortly due to submit our Full Business Case to the Department for Transport. Full Business Case approval is the final step needed before we can get spades in the ground for construction."
Cllr Bell adds "it has taken years" to get this far.
"We were the country’s first passenger scheme to secure a Development Consent Order to re-open a branch line," he said.
"We’ve risen to financial challenges created by inflation and rising costs across the construction industry, securing an extra £15.5m in funding from the Department for Transport, whilst pledging of a further £10m of our own.
“Though we understand the difficult decisions facing national government, we believe there continues to be a strong case for the investment into the Portishead to Bristol rail line.
"This is a shovel-ready scheme that we can deliver – and for which on-the-ground preparatory work has already begun. We just need government support to make it happen.
“Alongside the West of England Combined Authority and Network Rail, we will continue to make the case for this project and work with the new MP for North Somerset constituency, Sadik Al-Hassan, to do everything we can to secure support from the Department for Transport.”
Responding to Ms Reeves' statement in the Commons, former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt denied his party had hidden anything from the public regarding the nation's finances.
We are awaiting further reaction from across the region.
More to follow.