Mark Garnier MP has welcomed an additional £1.8 million of New Growth Deal funding for upgrades to Kidderminster Railway Station. Having already worked hard to ring fence £ 2.5 million in July, he has now secured an additional £ 1.8 million through fighting for Wyre Forest's needs, even by speaking personally to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The New Growth Deal was spurred on by constituents working on a range of projects across Worcestershire, but the original bid for funding began in Parliament, driven by local MPs. After listening to the concerns of many residents Mark Garnier worked to secure funding for Hoobrook road upgrades, crucially opening up the South Kidderminster business park, and improving interchange and increasing the catchment area of Kidderminster Railway station. The figure of £2.5 million for the railway station was announced locally on the 7th July 2014, and reaffirmed on the 29th of January 2015. This brings the total funding secured for the railway station to £4.3 million.
The funding for the railway station upgrades comes from the two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) that cover Wyre Forest: Worcestershire LEP and Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. The latest £1.8 million came from additional funding to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP. Capital is input into the various projects that had successful bids over a staggered period. Total New Growth Deal funding that will go into Worcestershire is to amount to £54.2 million.
This funding will go directly to the constituency via upgrades to the Kidderminster Rail Station. New investments into Worcestershire-wide projects will benefit Wyre Forest residents in a number of ways. These projects include Flood Alleviation, Superfast Broadband, the Business Growth Fund, which gives capital grants to SMEs usually for refurbishments and equipment, and the Skills Capital Fund. The latter initiative works with Further Education colleges to deliver 600 new Apprenticeships and 3000 Higher Level skills qualifications by 2020.
By devolving power and decisions from Whitehall, Wyre Forest District Council and constituents have been given large powers to drive their own economy. Growth Deals bring together government funding for investment in infrastructure, housing, and other projects and put it in a single pot, which is placed in the hands of local authorities and businesses to invest.
Mark Garnier MP, "I am very pleased to have been able to secure this funding for Kidderminster Railway station. The upgrades are an incredibly welcome development for commuters, businesses, job seekers and for taking weekends in Birmingham or further afield. The range of projects within Worcestershire LEP will boost the local economy in a number of ways, and bring greater security to many. This £7.2 million of funding in January is fantastic news for local people in Wyre Forest. Crucially, decisions on how this money is spent are being made by constituents who are best placed to ensure it makes a real difference. This will hopefully go a long way in helping our various local causes, such cause to get appropriate flood defences where we need them."