With the government placing growth top of its agenda, promoting projects such as Heathrow expansion and the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomes the continued efforts of Tan Dhesi, and the APPG he chairs, for leading an impressive cross-party call to action on securing the timely delivery of the Western Rail Link to London Heathrow (WRLtH).
In an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Transport (and MP for Swindon South), co-Chairs of the WRLtH All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough and Baroness May of Maidenhead called on government to support the scheme and advocate for partial funding of this vital piece of infrastructure.
Welcoming Tan Dhesi’s comments on the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce longstanding support for the scheme, Paul Britton, comments, “I share Tan Dhesi’s views, expressed in his letter, that we believe the business case for the scheme is as strong as ever. Thanks, predominantly to private funds and support from Oxfordshire CC and Slough BC, the Chamber will soon commission a study refreshing the economic case and consider, inter alia, funding and finance options”.
Ruth Bagley, chair of the Chamber’s WRLtH working group says, “The Thames Valley Chamber, alongside many local businesses, have long been championing this cross-party project and has secured the support of private and public bodies across the benefitting area. It is one of the UK’s top priority projects that will drive growth across Wales and many English regions and bring 20% of the UK population within one interchange of the UK’s only international hub airport and the UK’s largest port – Heathrow”.
The APPG’s letter summarises the benefits of the scheme, if built, which would include:
- Catalyst for Britain’s global reputation and (inward investment and trade) competitiveness
- Decarbonisation project – eliminating CO2 emissions equivalent to 30 million fewer road miles per year.
- Generate an estimated £800m to our Gross Added Value (GVA)
- Produce an estimated £1.5 bn in efficiency savings
- Stimulate the creation of new, and longstanding, jobs
- Substantive improvement in connectivity, and reduction in journey times, to 14m people
Read more about the Thames Valley Chambers work on campaigning for the WRLtH scheme HERE
