Business and political leaders from across the North have today launched a campaign to speak with "one, united voice" to push the government to deliver HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
The Connecting Britain project says that the entire region is overdue major investment into transport infrastructure, and a lack of investment is "holding productivity back".
It comes after it was revealed on Monday that HS2 could be delayed by up to three years, with an independent review into the scheme set to take place later this year.
The launch of Connecting Britain coincides with the HS2 Economic Growth Conference, which is taking place in Leeds this week.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Transport infrastructure is key to our economic success.
“That’s why I am joining leaders from across the North to demand that government commits to delivering HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, as a vital first step towards reversing the under-investment in the North’s transport infrastructure that has held us back for too many years.
“Better North/South and West/East connectivity will boost the Liverpool City Region economy, reduce journey times, and increase freight capacity, taking 150 million HGV miles off our roads."
Mayor Rotheram complained that London did not have to choose between Crossrail and HS2 - so the "North shouldn't have to choose between HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail".
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He added: "If we are to rebalance the 海角视频’s economy, we need infrastructure investment. And we need it fast.”
Business organisations from across the North, who are backing the campaign, have reiterated how important HS2 and NPR could be for the transformation of the Northern economy.
Asif Hamid, MBE, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “By committing to deliver both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, the government would be sending an important message about its confidence in the economy of the North of England, and its potential to boost the 海角视频 economy as a whole.
“High-speed rail is the only infrastructure that can deliver transformational improvements in connectivity and capacity. We need these projects to proceed to deliver economic growth, productivity and prosperity for the Liverpool City Region and the whole of the North.”
Launching the campaign, Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council and campaign partner of Connecting Britain said: “A green light on HS2 and NPR in full would be a clear signal from the government that it recognises that historic underinvestment in strategic transport infrastructure outside London is a trend that must be reversed if all communities are to be levelled-up and regions rebalanced.
“We will work with the government and the Oakervee Review into HS2, to demonstrate the strength of the economic case for the full and timely delivery of HS2 fully integrated with NPR and other complementary infrastructure schemes in the North and Midlands.
“For the North, it’s not either HS2 or NPR, it’s both.”
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Leader of Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport lead, Judith Blake, said: "Through Connecting Britain we are coming together to demonstrate our united support for the delivery of HS2 in full and integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail as essential to achieving our growth ambitions for the North and the 海角视频 as a whole.
“Both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail are vital to address the poor transport links between cities in the North and Midlands which have acted as a significant break on our economies.”
Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents the interests of 1,500 city firms, said: "Today's announcement by the Transport Minister that the start of phase one of the HS2 project could face delays of up to five years, reminds us once again just how important it is for the north to continue banging the drum and telling the Government that it is in the country's best interests to deliver both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) in full, and sooner rather than later.
"The uncertainty surrounding the project has intensified in recent weeks unfortunately - that is why Liverpool BID Company backs the Connecting Britain campaign. Only by working together with one voice can we stop Government from leaving the north behind. Now is the time for Government to sit up, listen to our case, and act by investing in our region's connectivity strategy. Only then will the north's economic might be fully realised.”