In yet another U-turn from what they said at the General Election, the Labour Government removed Ely Junction from the schemes given the go ahead by the Department of Transport at the recent Spending Review. This reversed the decision to agree funding by the Conservative Government in October 2023.
The removal of funding for Ely Junction matters to economic growth across Cambridgeshire, and to opening up more rail journeys for passengers from Whittlesey, March and Manea, as well as enabling more freight rail journeys to reduce the number of lorries on local roads.
When I asked the Minister in Parliament to confirm they had not prioritised funding for transport schemes scored as bringing less benefit - known as the benefits to costs ratio - she refused to do so. It is clear the Government has shifted funding to schemes in the north of England which their own data shows brings fewer benefits. It is a blatant political decision which penalises residents in Fenland and across the county.
