Officers of the Mersey Dee North Wales All Party Parliamentary Group have written to the Chancellor to support calls for a £20m fund to be made available at this week’s Spending Review.

The proposals, which were initially presented by Growth Track 360, are seeking investment to improve critical infrastructure in North Wales and the cross border areas of Cheshire and the Wirral. This call comes ahead of the Spending Review, during which the Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out Government department’s resource and capital budgets for 2021-22, and Devolved Administration’s block grants for the same period.

Dr James Davies MP, Chair of the Mersey Dee North Wales APPG said:

“Our group works closely with Growth Track 360 and other regional stakeholders to secure greater support for rail infrastructure. The APPG is committed to strengthening the union and improving cross border rail links to help local people to travel more quickly and conveniently. We are pushing hard to accelerate investment in the North Wales Coast Line. Much-needed improvements to the Wrexham to Liverpool service and a Chester Station able to handle more services to and from North Wales will vastly improve cross border connectivity.

“The combined package of rail improvements sought would be transformational for the economy, the environment and the closely interlinked economy of North Wales and the neighbouring areas of Cheshire and the Wirral.

“This group are committed to securing investment in North Wales and will work Growth Track 360, businesses and local government to secure funding at every opportunity. If we are not successful next week, we will be looking to help win investment in these schemes in the next round of investment decision-making.”