D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – has welcomed the Government’s stance that local decision-making is key to improving transport issues.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Minister and also MP for Derbyshire Dales, was speaking at yesterday’s LEP Network Annual Conference when he highlighted how decentralising power was the way forward.
He pointed to the £150m widening of the A453 into Nottingham as crucial and D2N2 chief executive David Ralph welcomed the words as the LEP sets about leading growth in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and making the region one of the strongest and most resilient in the UK.
Mr Ralph, who was in London for the conference, said: “Already we have seen the start of that work on the A453 and this, together with the improvements to Nottingham Station and Midland Mainline and the widening of the M1, are crucial to economic growth.
“We firmly believe local decision-making will deliver better transport improvements for the D2N2 region.
“We will work with government to make sure this happens with current projects and with identifying future projects.”
At the Conference, Mr Ralph was joined by D2N2 chairman Peter Richardson and board member Peter Gadsby.
Patrick McLoughlin MP told the Conference: “Local decision-making is particularly important in transport because the transport issues that concern people are local in nature.
“(They are) congestion, road safety, bus and train services. Issues that are not just understood better by local people and businesses, but that are best solved by them too.
“That is why the DfT has been at the front of the queue to involve and empower local enterprise partnerships.
“LEPs are in the best position to target investment more effectively, and get the best value for money. Tackling road bottlenecks is one of the most effective ways we can remove obstacles to economic growth.
“A vital project is the A453 dualling between M1 junction 24 and A52 Nottingham ring road. This is a major stretch of road serving the East Midlands and East Midlands Airport – and the £150m improvements will not only help address congestion, but also make the route safer.”
