Stoke-on-Trent council wants clarity on HS2 transport investment

Council leaders in Staffordshire are calling for clarity on regional investment from the axed HS2 leg.

The prime minister has pledged to reallocate £36bn saved by scrapping the high-speed line between the West Midlands and Manchester.

The Network North report set out investment plans, including the A50/500 corridor between Stoke and Derby.

Stoke-on-Trent's council leader has written to the government requesting details on funding and timescales.

"This road corridor consistently suffers from pinch points that make sections slow and unreliable," Jane Ashworth said.

"There are sections of both the A500 and A50 that crawl at speeds below 20mph during rush hour."

Staffordshire County Council leader Alan White also called for a confirmation of funds for the route, which connect to major networks such as the M6.

"Current delays along the route restrict growth, increase costs and cause significant inconvenience," he said.

The council leaders also said they wanted to see investment in rail and bus service networks.

"There is a major potential to improve east-west rail links along the corridor by reopening stations and improving frequency of trains," Cllr Ashworth said.

"If this can be combined with improvement in bus services as well, we might at last have a well-functioning transport system for north Staffordshire that will benefit not just us but the rest of the country."

The government's Network North report said improvements to the A50/500 corridor between Stoke and Derby would reduce congestion and ensure smoother journeys for drivers and freight.

The city council leader has written to the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper to set out the work required in the city and clarify when direct funding would be received.

The Department for Transport has been contacted for comment.

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