Burton and Uttoxeter MP Jacob Collier has been named as parliamentary advocate for the North Midlands Manufacturing Corridor.
His role will see him promoting and supporting transport upgrades on the A50/A500 route such as Road Investment Strategy proposals in and around Uttoxeter.
Sub-national transport body Midlands Connect released a ‘road map’ document with a series of proposals for the A50/A500 in 2022.
This outlined how improvements on the route could add £12 billion to the region’s economy over the next 60 years, help to unlock more than 12,000 jobs and reduce journey times by 30 minutes.
Research released last year showed that three junctions on a section of the A50 are all over 100 per cent capacity every day and that cars are going as slow as 14 miles per hour at a vital pinch point in Uttoxeter.
The MP said: “I am honoured to take on this role as parliamentary advocate for the A50/A500 and I look forward to working with Midlands Connect, residents and businesses in Burton, Uttoxeter and surrounding areas.
“This corridor is absolutely essential to our regional economy and its future growth. By championing these much-needed upgrades, we can unlock opportunities for local businesses, reduce congestion, and improve daily life for the people of Burton, Uttoxeter, and beyond.”
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said: “We know that this part of the region is an extremely important part of the UK’s wider economy and so we look forward to working with Jacob to put forward the case for investment.
“The improvements that Midlands Connect is proposing throughout the A50/A500 are vital for local infrastructure to drive future growth and better connectivity for residents.
“Our work fits together with Staffordshire County Council‘s Fifty500 project to offer a real blueprint for growth for the area.”
