I gave up my column last week so that the Prime Minister could endorse the central plank of my recently launched industrial plan for West Cumbria; to unlock land at Moorside for new nuclear development.
I’m now working hard to drive it forward as quickly as possible with Cumberland Council, the NDA and others. I’m determined that it won’t become another promise unfulfilled for our community after so many missed opportunities and broken promises under the previous government.
If you’ve got any questions or want to find out more about Pioneer Park, visit my website at joshmacalister.uk or contact my office.
This week I want to share another element of my industrial plan – a major upgrade of the Cumbria Coast Line to increase the number of passenger and freight services.
Upgrading our railway has been talked about for over ten years now. Like so much under the previous government, they dithered and delayed. They let the outline business case submitted by Cumbria gather dust on a shelf for years. As a desperate last minute attempt to win votes, they promised to fund it in 2024. But as with every other project it was a hollow promise, with not a penny attached to deliver it. There wasn’t even an up to date plan in place outlining exactly what was needed and how much it would cost.
When I was elected last year we had to start almost from scratch. I helped secure the funding for Cumberland Council to update the outline business case and get that submitted to government. I’m pleased to say that has now been done and credit goes to the council for moving quickly on it. The next stage is a full business case, which is required for any project before it can receive government funding (under this and all previous governments). We need £5 million to do that work and my fellow Cumbrian MPs and I are working hard to secure the money.
Once we have the full business case in place we have everything we need for a government funding decision. I will pursue securing that funding just as tirelessly as I have pursued unlocking land at Moorside over the last eleven months.
An upgrade of the railway is vital to delivering the defence and civil nuclear missions at Barrow and in West Cumbria, in particular any future Geological Disposal Facility, so I also believe we should be looking to companies like BAE Systems and Nuclear Waste Services for contributions towards the upgrade. And my colleagues and I will also be having those conversations in the months ahead.
I’m launching my industrial plan and my plan for new nuclear at a public meeting at 6pm on Thursday 26th June. Register to come along on my website or call my office on 01946 458023 and leave your full name and address.
Josh MacAlister MP 