THE Conservative candidate for North Shropshire says the re-allocated millions of pounds for Shropshire will boost local transport.

Simon Baynes, currently Clywd South MP, is the main challenger to Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan’s seat and has welcomed the £136 million investment for the county from re-allocated HS2 money.

Myr Baynes says the money – the first budget to be centre on towns and rural areas – will make a ‘huge difference’ to commuters in north Shropshire.

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“By redirecting money that would have been spent on HS2, we are already seeing more investment in local transport in north Shropshire, including more money to fill potholes and extending the £2 bus fare cap,” he said.

“People rely on local transport connections every day, and it is essential that we get the investment we need to keep us moving.

“This additional funding will make a such difference to our local transport infrastructure which I know matters so much to our community.

“Meanwhile Labour would put this at risk as they don’t have a plan to improve local transport – they can’t even say if they back our plan to reallocate HS2 savings into local transport improvements.

“Working with the Conservative Government, we are levelling up north Shropshire and transforming how people travel, as part of our long-term plan to invest in the things that matter most to local people and build a brighter future for everyone.”

Local authorities will receive funding from April 2025, giving them time to develop their funding proposals and prepare to hit the ground running to start delivering them as early as possible.

The announcement comes as part of the Conservative Government’s long-term plan to reallocate the £36 billion saved from HS2 Phase 2 into local transport improvements across the country – benefitting more people, in more places, more quickly than the full HS2 project would have done.

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This funding increase is for the North and the Midlands because most HS2 savings are from those regions.

Savings from Euston ensure the rest of the country receives extra transport investment too from our decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2.

Mr Baynes added: “The Conservative Government is delivering this unprecedented funding uplift across the North and Midlands as it sticks to its long-term plan to create jobs, grow the economy and level up the country, building a brighter future for all.”