TONY MILES DESCRIBES MIDLANDS CONNECT’S AMBITIONS
The general development of all forms of transport across what is now termed the ‘Midlands Engine’ is being led by Midlands Connect. The organisation is a pan-Midlands partnership of 22 local authorities, nine Local Enterprise Partnerships, eight chambers of commerce, Birmingham and East Midlands airports, Highways England, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and the Department for Transport. It is making the case for investment in transport to enhance connectivity across the region, as well as maximising the Midlands’ position within the national transport network and driving economic growth, trade and productivity to develop the region’s economy, which is currently worth £207 billion to the UK. Midlands Connect is essentially following the same journey taken by Transport for the North and is seeking to be granted formal, statutory status as a sub-national transport body. This move would enable the Midlands to have greater control and influence over local investment. Sadly, this will not mean full devolution of spending powers, as proposed by previous Secretaries of State, but it will still enable the Midlands to influence government thinking.
Serving an area with …
