Following calls from regional leaders to address the UK’s north-south transport investment gap, Stockport’s Council Leader Alex Ganotis has added further pressure on Government labelling the situation unsustainable and challenging the Government to put its money where its mouth is.

Contrary to expectations, the Government’s Queen’s speech did not outline funding for a number of northern projects including the east-west HS3 plans and improved rail links between Leeds and Manchester. Despite pre-election pledges the only funding earmarked was another £30bn for London’s major Crossrail 2 project.

Recent years have seen a number of large scale transport projects underway in London from Crossrail to London underground upgrades and extensions, the Docklands Light Railway, and major works on Paddington and London St Pancras stations. These are in addition to Eurostar services linking the capital to the continent and upcoming plans for HS2.

A recent IPPR North report has shown this means more than half of all UK transport investment (53%) went to London in 2016-17. By contrast the entire northern region received just 20.1%. London transport investment came to £1,940 per person in that year compared to just £680 per person in the North West, or £427 per person across the north as a whole.

This has led to calls by regional leaders to end the funding gap between north and south including a joint statement by Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram and Manchester’s Sir Richard Leese among others.

In addition, the SIGOMA group of Local Authority Leaders, has also issued a joint statement and launched a petition on the northern powerhouse funding.

Commenting on the issue, Stockport Council Leader Alex Ganotis said:

“For every pound north-west residents see invested in transport Londoners receive three. This situation is both unsustainable and makes little economic sense.

“Large scale transport investment in London is justified by the jobs and tax receipts this generates.

“However, the same investment up north has potential for even greater benefits: encouraging economic growth, tax revenue income and reducing social costs in areas where economic regeneration is badly needed.

“What this means is not only are the regions being left behind by this Government but so is the UK as a whole as competitor nations develop world-class transport infrastructure.

“Our residents deserve better. It is high time the government put its money where its mouth is.“