Stuart Anderson MP urges government to seize opportunity to invest in rural public infrastructure in King’s Speech
Stuart has urged the government to improve public infrastructure in rural areas like South Shropshire ahead of the State Opening of Parliament on 17th July, when King Charles III will deliver a Speech setting out the priorities of the Government for the next session. Stuart said the opportunity must be seized to ensure that people in rural areas like South Shropshire are not left behind by the big cities when it comes to infrastructure and investment.
As part of his plan for South Shropshire, Stuart wants to secure transformative investment into infrastructure to bring change such as fixing the roads and upgrading school and hospital buildings. Working with his predecessor Philip Dunne, the last Government committed considerable sums to drive economic growth in the area. Stuart has said that the new Government must not renege on these commitments to delivering essential projects.
The previous Government had committed to investing £153 million allocation in local highways maintenance across Shropshire as well as a £136.44 million allocation from the £4.7 billion Local Transport Fund. Stuart has now tabled formal written questions in Parliament and written to DEFRA Minister Emma Hardy, calling on the Government to stand by this investment in Shropshire so it can invest in the roads network and fix potholes.
Stuart said that securing fairer funding for rural likes like South Shropshire is a key priority of his. This will continue the work of Philip Dunne, the previous MP for Ludlow, and other Conservative MPs, who had helped secure an incredible £312 million for the Hospital Transformation Programme in Shropshire. Stuart said that it is vital this programme is not stopped and added that he will do all that he can to hold the Government to account in delivering for the residents of South Shropshire.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“It is clear that people in South Shropshire often feel left behind by the big cities when it comes to investing in infrastructure like our roads, schools, and hospitals. Rural areas face disproportionate challenges to economic growth – not least those posed by issues such as sparsity, distance, and connectivity. I want the Government to address this directly by including it as a priority in the King’s Speech next Wednesday, on 17th July. That’s why I have called on the Government to seize this huge opportunity to unleash rural prosperity in South Shropshire and beyond by investing in rural infrastructure as part of the King’s Speech.”
