The Government has today announced £133,994,000 for Stoke-on-Trent and £285,903,000 for Staffordshire as part of the long-term plan to level up local transport. The funding is our local share of the £4.7bn Local Transport Fund, reallocating money from the cancelled HS2 Phase 2 project, to fund locally-chosen projects across the Midlands and the North.
Welcoming the award of £419m for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, Jack Brereton MP has announced the transport priorities he will be focusing on, to make best use of this new funding:
- Filling potholes
- Tackling congestion and improving road safety at key junctions like in Meir and Blythe Bridge
- Investing in new paving and public realm improvements for our high streets and towns like Longton
- More preventative road maintenance across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire
- Further bus priority measures to improve the reliability of services
- Additional local station improvements, including funding towards reopening either Trentham or Barlaston Station
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council will receive the funding from April 2025, giving them time to develop their investment proposals and to start delivering them as early as possible. Over seven years as a whole, this funding will be on average at least nine times more than local authorities currently receive through the local integrated transport block, the current mechanism for funding local transport improvements.
At Stoke Station today, Jack has hosted the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, to discuss how this new funding will boost access to work in North Staffordshire.
Speaking following the announcement, Jack Brereton MP said:
“I welcome this unprecedented investment into our local transport and I am grateful for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for joining me locally to discuss further the benefits this will bring, making it easier for people to access better employment opportunities across North Staffordshire.
The lack of effective local transport is currently a major barrier to employment and training opportunities, as well as just being able to get about. This major commitment to invest in improving the condition of our roads, reducing congestion, and delivering better bus and rail services, will make huge difference to communities across our local area.
This is only possible thanks to the cancellation of Phase 2 of HS2, meaning the money freed up will be focused instead on local transport improvements which residents want and need.”
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:
“The Government has been working closely with local MPs such as Jack Brereton, who is a continual champion for his constituents, and never fails to lobby Government Ministers such as myself for improvements into Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.
“Along with money being invested already into schemes through Network North, the Government has listened and identified the need for major investments into local transport.”
“I know these improvements are very much needed in communities across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. This investment will help make it easier for people to get access to better employment and skills opportunities. We will continue to work with local MPs and local authorities to ensure that this investment is properly spent on projects that will improve the lives of local people.”
