LIVERPOOL Mayor Joe Anderson this afternoon criticised proposals for a northern rail blueprint, saying the city was being by-passed.
The Mayor stormed: “Far from a One North Agenda the Government and HS2 Ltd are putting forward a Two North solution which is excluding many of our northern cities and communities from the promise of greater economic prosperity.”
The Mayor’s views are broadly in line with Liverpool Confidential’s own commentary on plans to connect cities west to east across the north. But the heavy emphasis is on a fast cross Pennine rail link between Manchester and Leeds.
The Mayor’s "grim up North" response was in sharp contrast to the broad welcome given to the so-called HS3 proposals by Cllr Phil Davies, leader of Wirral Council. He is also chairman of the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority, the sub-regional "cabinet" covering Liverpool and its five neighbouring boroughs.
Phil Davies: HappyCllr Davies said: “It is clear that the economic case we have made has been recognised, and we welcome the challenge to quickly complete the work already ongoing with our partners through One North, which will establish the blueprint for rail connectivity across the North and which is now nearing completion.”
Mayor Anderson, though, described today’s HS3 announcement by Prime Minister David Cameron and Sir David Higgins of HS2 Ltd as “both disappointing and illogical.”
The Mayor said: “I am profoundly disappointed that despite a great deal of rhetoric about a northern powerhouse, this announcement offers no new connectivity or capacity to Liverpool.
“We are once again being by-passed by an investment that will fail to realise its supposed purpose.”
Mayor Anderson told Liverpool Confidential he strongly supports the HS3 idea, but is adamant that it must go beyond the Manchester / Leeds connection proposed today.
Joe Anderson: Fuming “Liverpool has to be an integral part of any meaningful HS3 project. We are the UK’s western trading gateway, and as David Higgins recognises, the transformational impact of our investment in the Liverpool 2 port expansion on the North's freight-handling can only be achieved through additional rail capacity.
“A high speed line to Liverpool would give us that capacity, connect us to HS2 and be the logical first phase for HS3.
“We built the world’s first inter-city railway to Manchester nearly 200 years ago, and that link remains the obvious logical starting point for the creation of a Northern Powerhouse – two neighbouring cities, with close economic links, strong passenger demand and with the critical mass and global connectivity to rival London. I am absolutely determined over the coming months to make and develop Liverpool’s case. This is a vital cause and an argument that we must win.”
Cllr Davies said he welcomed the Higgins report. He said: “There is an opportunity to deliver a new high speed route that could, in one go, connect the Liverpool City Region to the HS2 network, as well as Manchester and Leeds.
“Partners from the public and private sectors in the Liverpool City Region are united in our determination to secure full High Speed Rail connectivity into Liverpool for the benefit of the city region and beyond and we will continue to rise to the challenge, now putting forward a clear investment plan identifying the best way to do so.”
