Our region will be perfectly placed to capitalise on any economic benefits from high speed rail, Staffordshire County Council’s leader has claimed.
Cllr Philip Atkins coming following the launch of the national HS2: Getting the best out of Britain report.
The report, by HS2 Limited’s chairman Sir David Higgins, drew on evidence from over 100 employers, local authorities and universities and says that world-leading skills and research in the Midlands and the North can match that of London and the South East.
Cllr Atkins said the region was already well placed to reap the rewards of improved connectivity and the drive to create more highly skilled jobs.
“From the outset we have made it clear that we were determined to get the best deal on HS2 for the whole of Staffordshire, our communities and our businesses in terms of mitigation, compensation, better connectivity and a share of any economic benefits,” he said.
“While we continue to champion the cause of communities along the route, it is important that Staffordshire and neighbouring cities, towns and villages share in shorter journey times and better connections via HS2 Stations and the HS2 hub at Stafford, which the construction of the Handsacre Link will allow.
“I am pleased that this report, once again recognises the huge wealth of experience and potential outside London and, today it is not just cities but counties which can be the driving force in in growing not just a regional, but a national economy.”
The report revealed that cities and regions in the Midlands and North account for 32% of the UK’s research staff working in universities with high quality research, compared to 35 per cent in London and the South East.
