North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has asked Ministers to support plans to improve transport links to and from Swindon.
At the Budget, the Chancellor announced a £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund for projects that drive productivity by improving connections within city regions. Swindon is looking to utilise the fund to make it easier for commuters who live and work in the town to travel to & from Oxford and Cambridge.
These proposals, which centre on making greater use of the rail network and modernising Swindon Station, would deliver new homes and growth.
Text of Justin's question, and the Minister's reply
Justin Tomlinson: "Swindon is building houses at roughly three times the rate of the national average and we wish to go further. Does the Minister support Swindon’s proposal to use the Transforming Cities fund to extend the Oxford and Cambridge rail link to Swindon, which would unlock further new homes in Swindon?"
Jake Berry (Local Government Minister): "That is a tempting invitation to support a bid to the Transforming Cities fund. That is exactly what the fund is designed to do. When people make good, ground-up, locally supported proposals, the fund, on a competitive basis, should be there to support them."
