West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today welcomed a national commitment to improving transport infrastructure which will see an extra £209 million spend on local road and rail projects.

The extra money freed up from abandoning the HS2 extension project has allowed the Government to spend £4.7 billion on transport projects helping local councils to invest in major road and rail projects.

The council will draw up plans to improve local roads and invest in public transport, reduce congestion and upgrade local bus services and train stations and help create jobs, grow the economy and level up communities.

Harriett said:

“Local people tell me that they can see how Worcestershire County Council prioritises roads and pavements as they can tell the difference when they cross county borders.  There is a great pothole reporting website where local people can report potholes when issues emerge.

“This extra money will help the council to carry out road improvement projects and I hope that they will be looking to use the funding to help those areas that see roads regularly damaged by flooding as an immediate priority.

“My local transport priorities are getting the 44 and X43 bus service restored, redoubling sections of the Cotswold Line railway, adding extra Cross Country rail services at Worcestershire Parkway station, improving active travel routes and ensuring rail companies deliver their timetables.

“I’m still keeping a close eye on the broader project to raise the Hanley Road in Upton-upon-Severn and I have written to the Department for Transport to ask Ministers to look at wider solutions to this problem.

“This is a welcome cash boost to the local county council and I look forward to studying their plans in detail when they emerge.”