The news the Government is to commit to building an high speed rail link connecting Sheffield to London and Leeds has been welcomed by Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge.
The proposed Sheffield station would be built at Meadowhall - causing some controversy.
While for Sheffield the preferred location of the station would have been Midland Station, I can fully understand why it is proposed to locate the station at Meadowhall.
To get the line into Sheffield would be very expensive, in excess of £1.5bn. it also has to remembered that this stop is for the City region and as a Barnsley MP too I recognise how important it is that Barnsley has good connections to high speed rail.
Meadowhall provides that for Barnsley Rotherham, Sheffield and outlying areas such as Worksop and Chesterfield.
The Prime Minister says the money to pay for HS2 will need to come from 'a balance' between the Government and 'the train user' - but expensive tickets are necessary for 'Britain to be a success'. See the full interview above.
This is great news and a really important day for Leeds. Fast train links are vital to the future of our economy and will help boost the region. And the strong all-party support for this project will give confidence to businesses thinking about investing in Leeds that we are building the infrastructure we need for a strong economy in the years ahead.
– Hilary Benn MP for Leeds Central
The route chosen into Leeds will, it seems, produce the least disruption but there must be full consultation with communities and businesses affected and generous compensation. It is also vital that there is an easy way for pedestrians to move between the two stations.
