Campaigners have met with Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP to put the case for reopening the Skipton to Colne railway line.
The meeting, which took place last Friday (30 June) in Leeds, was arranged by John Grogan. former MP and the prospective Labour candidate for the Parliamentary constituency of Keighley and Ilkley.
Andy Dixon, Chris Oakley and Peter Bryson from Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) joined West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin, Bradford City Council Leader Susan Hincliffe (who also chairs the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Group), Louise Haigh (MP for Heeley in Sheffield) and John Grogan at the meeting, which was also attended by senior members from the regional Labour group.
Attendees were given a briefing pack in advance and a presentation pack at the meeting, which emphasised how reopening the eleven-mile line would help to regenerate areas of social deprivation.
The presentation included a map showing these areas in Lancashire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The presentation showed that reopening the line would provide value for money and significantly improve rail connectivity. Campaigners want decision-makers to see the Skipton to Colne line as an integral part of strategic rail proposals for the North of England.
Louise Haigh expressed her interest on how re-opening the line would link major towns in the region, which are not served by Northern Powerhouse Rail. Other attendees asked about strategies for freight and for improving passenger services from Preston to Colne.
A further meeting then took place, with representatives of a mix of organisations in attendance, who listened to three speakers outline the urgent need to improve the region's transport in the region.
SELRAP has cross-party political support and meets with different political groups. Further information can be found on its website.
It’s good that Selrap has not given up the quest for justice over a decision that has caused the Pendle area of the North West of England to be at a severe economic disadvantage for the last 45 years, the problem is those good intentions are aimed at the wrong party a party who supports the Metro mayors quest for the limited stop HS2 White Elephant which working folk won’t be able to afford to travel on, it should be stressed to politicians that in order to serve the countries working people, they only want affordable and reliable rail transport which will get them to and from work on time
People need to get real here .. This project would require the existing line to Colne to be put back as double track as well as reinstatement of the track to Skipton. What could be achieved and deliver basically the same benefits for a fraction of the cost would be a curve at Hellifield linking the line from Blackburn with the line towards Skipton. … It would also secure the future of the line from Clitheroe to Hellifield
I agree with what you said at the beginning of your post, about people getting real. Because this is seen as Up North by Westminster, it probably won’t happen due to the fact, Govt has ploughed so much money into HS2. (That has now hit the buffers.)
It would be great to see old rail lines put back into use again, but I don’t see it happening as this Govt only likes private companies running everything.