A JUNIOR transport minister has said that transport projects like the Oswestry to Gobowen railway restoration will likely be discontinued under Labour.

Lillian Greenwood, minister for future of roads and under-secretary of state for transport, appeared at a Westminster Hall debate, secured by North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan, on Wednesday (September 11).

Mrs Morgan used the debate to call for the new Labour Government to back the plans for the reconnection of the Oswestry to Gobowen railway, stating that the business case had Department for Transport backing.

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She also added that it would provide a ‘huge jobs boost’ for both jobseekers and employers.

However, Ms Greenwood said that projects promised by the Conservatives last year could not be funded because of the ‘black hole’ left in the country’s finances.

She said: “I understand the argument (Mrs Morgan) makes about problems with connectivity between Oswestry and Gobowen.

“Particularly for those who have no access to private vehicles or don’t wish to drive, and I really appreciate the importance of good transport links in the area, including to the hospital for patients, staff and visitors, and the local area.

“The Honourable Member has described the difficulties her constituents face reaching the places for opportunities to work and study.

“This is why transport is so important.

“However, as the Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out in her speech to the house on July 29, the Government has been forced to face the economic inheritance left by the previous administration.

“This includes that £22 billion black hole in the Government’s finances for this year alone and that includes £2.9 billion in transport projects that were committed to despite knowing full well they were unaffordable.

“I can understand the announcement of the difficult decision to close the Restoring Your Railways programme has caused disappointment.

“I can assure Mrs Morgan that decision wasn’t taken lightly.

“As the chancellor set out, individual Restoring Your Railway projects will be considered as part of the work towards the spending review and wider decisions for the department.

“it won’t be possible for all transport projects, especially those not in delivery, to continue, and I’m afraid that’s the difficult reality we find ourselves in.

“The programme attracted huge interest when it was launched by the previous Government in January 2020 with more than 140 applications.

“In the case of this project, the Government announced as part of Network North that it would proceed to delivery subject to successful business cases.

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“However, there was a clear gap between promised projects and the money available to deliver them and the previous Government should have been up front and frank about this.”

The minister added that there would be a review of spending that would be ‘quick and thorough’ with recommendations made on what projects can be considered.

She added, when asked by Mrs Morgan what monies would be made available for ‘almost bankrupt’ local authorities to make transport decisions, that it would be part of a spending review.