HS2 cash must be spent fixing roads in Greater Manchester say Oldham Liberal Democrats

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and party spokesperson for Greater Manchester transport councillor Howard Sykes MBE has urged the Labour government to protect cash from the scrapped HS2 rail project so that it can be spent fixing roads and infrastructure across Oldham and Greater Manchester. 

Councillor Sykes said: “When the last Conservative government pulled the plug on HS2, they immediately took the cash that was meant to improve travel in the north of England and they started spending it in the south.  The new Labour government must not allow this to continue.

“Across Oldham and Greater Manchester our roads are worse than ever.  The government must ring-fence some of the funding that was due to be spent on HS2 and make sure it is put to use making improvements in Greater Manchester.

“If we are not getting a new high-speed railway, it’s only fair that the money is used on our wider transport infrastructure.”

The Northern leg of HS2, the long-awaited high-speed rail link, was scrapped last year as one of the final acts of the Conservative government.  Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was heavily criticised for using his party conference to axe the scheme and direct the funding around the country including London and the south east.  

Councillor Sykes urged the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to use his upcoming conference in Liverpool to ensure the north of England gets a fair deal.

Councillor Sykes said: “It was a complete travesty that money that was meant to improve transport in and around Greater Manchester was taken away and spent improving roads in London.  The new government now has the opportunity to put this right.  Will the new Prime Minister show that he will not take Oldham and Greater Manchester for granted?”