Martin Vickers met with Transport Minister, Claire Perry MP, along with other northern Lincolnshire MPs and Dr Ian Kelly, Chief Executive of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, in order to discuss proposals within a Department for Transport consulation on the future of Northern and TransPennine Express services; the proposal would see an end to the direct rail service between Cleethorpes and Manchester Airport.
Martin said: "Meeting the Transport Minister was an excellent opportunity for the northern Lincolnshire MPs to raise the concerns we had previously written to the Minister about regarding the worrying consultation proposals to end direct rail services between Cleethorpes and Manchester Airport. It was also most useful to have Ian Kelly there to offer detailed concerns of the business community in our area."
The meeting follows Martin's questioning (as a member of the Transport Select Committee) of North Lincolnshire Council Leader, Liz Redfern; North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Chris Shaw; David Brown, of Rail North; Chief Executive of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Ian Kelly; and Jon Lamonte, of One North, as part of an inquiry investigating investment in the railway. The session heard from the council leaders just how important the direct rail link is to business investment and future growth for northern Lincolnshire.