A Cheshire MP has highlighted the urgent need for more “equitable transport investment across northern communities” in a speech on regional transport inequalities.
Speaking during a debate secured by fellow Labour MP Catherine Atkinson, Andrew Cooper argued that transport should be seen not merely as a means of travel, but as “a driver of opportunity”, connecting people to education, employment, and essential services.
The Middlewich MP warned that for many towns and cities in the North, transport had instead become a barrier to progress.
“Deep-rooted inequalities in regional infrastructure have left countless towns and cities disconnected,” Mr Cooper said.
“Historically, per capita transport spending in London has dwarfed that of the north. Analysis shows that had the north received the same level of investment between 2010 and 2020, it would have gained an additional £66 billion.”
He pointed to Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford as examples of communities held back by ageing infrastructure and underfunded networks, calling it a major obstacle to attracting businesses and boosting local economies.
He welcomed recent reforms to the treasury’s so-called green book, which places greater emphasis on regional equity and long-term social impact. He described the changes as a “turning point” and praised the Labour Government for taking action, citing new rail upgrades, bus routes, and road schemes — including the Middlewich eastern bypass — as signs of progress.
“I am proud to say it was this Labour Government who delivered the investment for this vital project,” he said, joking that the former minister may have approved it just to stop him “camping outside her office and badgering her in the tea room.”
Looking ahead, Mr Cooper pledged to continue lobbying for further improvements, including upgrades to the Winnington bridge and step-free access at Northwich station.
As we report on page three, Sandbach and Alsager MP Congleton MP Sarah Russell said that years of “chronic underfunding” under the Conservatives have left roads in her constituency “a catastrophic state”.
Speaking in the same debate, she said that the Government had given Cheshire East several million pounds more in this year’s budget to deal with road maintenance backlogs than in recent years, “which was very much appreciated by my constituents”.
But she said: “The reality is that 14 years of chronic underfunding has left my roads in a catastrophic state.”
She also raised the issue of Sandbach station rail accessibility, including the lack of an accessible lift at the station, and the fact that there had been a 67% reduction in buses in the area over the past 15 years.
