Residents need answers on West Midlands Interchange, says MP
The Transport Secretary has been told residents in Staffordshire need to be put out of their misery and told if a huge rail depot will be built near their homes.
Stafford MP Theo Clarke met with Grant Shapps to discuss the delay over a decision on the West Midlands Interchange, which is planned for land the size of 430 football pitches at Gailey.
Ms Clarke said she stressed the urgency for a decision as confusion and anxiety will only continue to grow the longer a decision is put off.
A decision had been expected on February 27 but there is still no news more than two weeks on. There has been no explanation for the delay and it is not known whether the escalating coronavirus crisis has impacted on other Government business such as this.
The Department for Transport has said it is “due to update Parliament in due course on this” but has not given any indication of when this will be.
The wait for answers has been described as "excruciating" by villagers set to be impacted by the interchange.
Ms Clarke, who was elected as Stafford's new Conservative MP in December, is supporting residents in their bid to have the development thrown out.
She said: "I was pleased the Secretary of State took the time to speak with me. I made it very clear that my constituents needed a decision on the West Midlands Interchange and that in my view the best decision was to refuse the application.
"This proposal would tear up our green belt, ruin local residents' lives and cause traffic chaos. I made sure the minister was reminded of these facts.
"I look forward to hearing finally an announcement from the Government and I will continue to push them for a response to end this uncertainty."
The Interchange would see 700 acres of land torn up close to the A5, A449 and M6 at Gailey, Four Ashes and Calf Heath.
Four Ashes Ltd, which is behind the plans, say the depot would create more than 8,500 jobs and bring £427 million to the local economy and an extra £912m nationally.
