'Energy Estuary' is right on track, PM promises Chamber

Prime Minister David Cameron promised his backing for HS3 and improved rail connectivity for both banks of the “Energy Estuary” when he was challenged to support Humber businesses by the chairman of the Chamber’s Shipping and Transport Committee, Graham Cross.

Mr Cross lobbied the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Leeds with the Chancellor George Osborne to discuss the Northern Powerhouse with the region’s MPs and business leaders.

Mr Cross said: “The Prime Minister was very supportive of the ‘Energy Estuary’ and mentioned Hull, the Humber, North and North East Lincolnshire several times during their speeches, so our area is definitely on the Government’s radar.

“I the Chamber is working hard to improve transport and infrastructure links across the Pennines to both sides of the Humber which is the fourth largest trading estuary in Europe,” Mr Cross said.

“David Cameron said he is backing plans for HS3 which will link the ports of Hull and Liverpool, or the Hullapool line, and the electrification of the railway line from Selby to Hull, as well as south bank connectivity to Cleethorpes”.

“I explained to Mr Cameron that while we support HS2 and its benefits in relieving network congestion, HS3 will deal with some restrictive pinchpoints on the “Hullapool” line and will be more important for the development of the Northern Powerhouse than HS2.

“The Prime Minister was very knowledgeable about the Humber region and referred to the Energy Estuary several times during his speech. I was pleased with the commitment from the Government to support the region and its transport infrastructure, including rail and road, recognising that as the largest trading area in the UK it needs the infrastructure and development which I believe HS2 and HS3 will facilitate”.

Mr Cross was invited to attend the presentation in Leeds by Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers who has also been very active on the region’s rail issues, working with the Chamber and others to save the direct rail link from Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport.

The Chamber, with others, has recently been increasingly involved through evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and direct lobbying of Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin about transport links and has been lobbying for HS3 to ensure a “Hullapool” line is established.

During their visit to the region, the Prime Minister and Chancellor also confirmed the Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC), which will be based at Hull University, the expansion of Capitol Park enterprise zone, rail electrification from Selby to Hull and £1.5-million funding for the Ferens Art Gallery to help it host the Turner Prize in Hull during the City of Culture year in 2017.