Barnsley MPs back Meadowhall HS2 station
Three Barnsley MPs have written to the Government supporting the HS2 station being built at Meadowhall,
Having the new high speed rail station at Meadowhall instead of in Sheffield City Centre has got the backing of Barnsley's MPs.
Penistone and Stocksbridge's Angela Smith, Barnsley central's Dan Jarvis and Michael Dugher have all written to the Transport Secretary supporting HS2 stopping at the shopping centre.
Michael Dugher, MP for Barnsley East, said:
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"We need to make sure that HS2 delivers the biggest possible benefits to Barnsley and the wider region.
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"Building a South Yorkshire hub station at Sheffield Meadowhall will speed up journey times, increase connectivity and boost local jobs and growth.
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"We have called on the Government to act so that Barnsley and the Sheffield City Region as a whole does not miss out on this opportunity."
Local politicians and campaigners who've been trying to convince the Government to change their mind and put the station in the city centre have criticised the move.
On Angela Smith writing the letter, Cllr Colin Ross, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Sheffield City Council, said:
"It is so disappointing that a Sheffield Labour MP has gone against her own council group and against the interests of Sheffield people and the wider city region to support a Meadowhall HS2 station.
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"As time has gone on the case for a city centre location has been become overwhelming clear. The Sheffield Liberal Democrats and Nick Clegg have been working hard trying to convince the government to change their mind.
"We need to be working cross-party to make the best case but South Yorkshire Labour politicians need to get their act together."