- Local MP, Kate Griffiths, welcomes Government funding to develop plans for reinstatement of Ivanhoe line
- Part of the Government’s £500 million commitment to reopen railway lines and stations across the country that were closed during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
Local MP, Kate Griffiths, has helped to secure a share of £500,000 to develop plans and proposals to reinstate the Ivanhoe line. The funding will be used to explore the feasibility of the project in more detail, after the Department for Transport decided the project was worthy of further consideration.
The Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line group (CRIL) have worked hard on developing this bid and, in support, Kate has made the case to ministers and officials in Whitehall that the project should progress to the next phase and receive financial support.
The project is part of the Government’s £500 million Restoring Your Railway Fund, delivering on the promise made in the Conservative manifesto to reopen many of the lines and stations that were closed in the 1960s – known as the Beeching cuts. The restoration of many of the Beeching lines is a core component of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister’s agenda to invest in infrastructure to level up economic growth and opportunities across the whole country.
Commenting, Kate Griffiths said:
“I am absolutely delighted that we will now receive Government funding to develop proposals for reopening the Ivanhoe Line in more detail, which will bring huge benefits to people living and working in Burton as well as across the region.
“A big well done must go to the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line group that has been working hard on this cause for a number of years and I look forward to working with them as these plans now move forward in earnest.
“While the Government is protecting lives and livelihoods in the coronavirus outbreak, never has the Prime Minister’s agenda to level up and invest in infrastructure been so important. As part of this, good transport links are essential, and I hope this funding marks the first step in getting this project off the ground as quickly as possible”
Chair of the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line, Geoff Bushell, said:
“This is very welcome news from the Government and a huge step forward for the campaign to see the Ivanhoe Line reopen. This is the best chance the line has had at reopening in decades, but it is by no means a done deal.
“Although the Department for Transport clearly has confidence in this project to take things to the next stage, there is still a case to be proven. But we are in a good position and we will now work closely with the Department, local councils and Kate to take these proposals forward and get this thing over the line.”
