Transport leaders in Greater Manchester are to meet with Northwest regional minister, Beverley Hughes, after the Government turned down the chance to claim more than £200M for the Northwest from the European Regional Development Fund.
Hazel Blears’ Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has refused a European Commission offer of a six-month extension to the time to use unspent money which was earmarked for the English regions from 2000 to 2006.
Local government minister, John Healey, said it would have been 'difficult, if not impossible' to spend the cash in the time allowed, and the regions should concentrate on applying for cash.
But local transport chiefs, still reeling from the loss of the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund money after the resounding congestion charge 'no' vote were furious. The £202M is roughly the same as the cost of the Oldham/Rochdale Metrolink extension, and almost five times the cost of taking trams to Manchester Airport.
The offer was originally made last November by Danuta Hübner, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy. Although Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland accepted it, the Government turned down up to £671M for England, and has now confirmed that decision after a review by officials following an outcry.
Now, local leaders are to meet with Stretford MP, Hughes, to protest. Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority vice chairman, Councillor Keith Whitmore, said: ‘The Government talks about spending its way out of the recession and at the same time, hands back this money which we so desperately need.
‘London is getting more and more all the time. We could complete all the Metrolink extensions for what it is spending on Crossrail.’ The unclaimed money will, in fact, be deducted from Britain’s future contribution to the EU.
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