Concern amid suggestion Portishead railway line could be scrapped
It's reported the Chancellor will ditch the idea, saying there isn't enough money
Last updated 29th Jul 2024
North Somerset’s new Labour MP has said he is “distressed” at reports that plans to reopen the Portishead railway line could be cancelled within hours.
The long-awaited plan to reopen the railway line to Bristol with new stations in Portishead and Pill has made progress recently, with North Somerset Council unanimously backing the scheme in January amid hope construction could start in August.
However, now the scheme is among those that could be cut by the government, according to a report in The Sunday Times.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make a statement to the House of Commons today where she is expected to cut a number of projects to save money, amid claims the Conservatives left the country’s finances in a worse state than thought with a £20 billion black hole in finances. According to the Sunday Times, the £500m Restoring Your Railway Fund will be cut back or scrapped and the Portishead Line is likely to be at risk.
Ms Reeves is expected to tell Parliament: “If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it. People up and down our country will understand that. When household budgets are stretched, families have to make difficult choices and government needs to do the same.”
But Sadik Al-Hassan, North Somerset’s first ever Labour MP, has raised concerns with the government over the threat to the Portishead Line.
In a letter to Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, and transport secretary Louise Haigh, on Sunday Mr Al-Hassan said: “I am distressed to hear this morning in the Sunday Times about the risk to the vital railway project in the North Somerset constituency.
“The project has long been 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 with both of you about this issue. The re-opening is part of Metrowest Phase 1B and has received a Development Consent Order with multiple partners involved in funding the £152 million commitment and £32m spent already.
“This infrastructure project to improve transport in my constituency is immensely important to me and my constituents so I would like to work with you both to deliver it.”
The Portishead railway station was closed in the 1960s but the long battle to reopen a station in the town has taken major strides recently. In January, North Somerset Council unanimously voted to give council leader Mike Bell the authority to submit the full business case for the scheme to the Department of Transport.
Mr Bell said: “We have played our part with local resources, and we now expect the Department of Transport to take responsibility for any capital delivery risk or cost pressures going forward.”
The project’s price tag of £152m had been funded by the West of England Combined Authority, the Department for Transport, and North Somerset Council — but it would be down to the Department for Transport to cover any unexpected extra costs going forward. The hope at the time was that construction could start in August.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Mr Bell said: “North Somerset Council is committed to delivering the Portishead rail line and there is a strong case for Department for Transport investment. We’ll be working with Sadik Al-Hassan to make this case again and again. Nothing is confirmed, so watch this space.”
A spokesperson for the West of England Combined Authority has told Hits Radio they won't comment until after the Chancellor has spoken.