A WORCESTERSHIRE MP claims to have uncovered swingeing cuts to the county’s transport budget.
Dame Harriett Baldwin says the Chancellor’s recent Spending Review slashed the county’s transport budget from £209 million to £80.5 million over the next five years.
As a result, she believes the council will need to dramatically scale back its aspiration for highways and rail improvements across the region.
The West Worcestershire MP has warned major infrastructure projects like improvements to the North Cotswold Line rail upgrade could be delayed for a generation following the cuts.
She said the last Conservative Government and Conservative-led county council delivered various successful transport infrastructure projects thanks to local funding.
“The previous Government took a decision to curtail HS2. In Worcestershire, that meant the Government promised £209 million over seven years.”
“The latest review shows the amount offered to Worcestershire is considerably less – on average just £11 million a year meaning the council will have to scale back its ambition.”
“The last Government promised Worcestershire County Council additional money to fund important transport infrastructure projects, but these ambitions will need to be significantly scaled back with the much smaller budget,” she said.
However, Labour’s Redditch MP Chris Bloore disputes this analysis.
He told the Observer: “Harriet Baldwin’s claim is simply wrong.
“The £209 million she cites was an unfunded HS2 reallocation that never materialised. Labour’s Spending Review delivers genuine investment for Worcestershire.
“We’ve secured £123 million for the Midlands Rail Hub, transforming local rail services with extra trains and faster journeys. £66.9 million in Local Transport Grant capital from 2026 to 2030, plus a share of £104 million in additional resource funding. “
He said Worcestershire will also see record local transport grants quadrupling by 2029 to 2030 and record highways maintenance funding – nearly £30 million in year 2025 to 2026.
“In addition, £9.3million in record investment to deliver the biggest improvements to our county bus provision in a decade and the £3 fare cap extended to 2027,” he added.
“After years of Conservative neglect and the chaos of a Reform-led council, Labour is delivering real, sustainable transport improvements for our county.”
