Burton and Uttoxeter’s MP, Kate Griffiths, has been asked to be the ‘Project Champion’ for the North Midlands Manufacturing Corridor (NMMC) by Midlands Connect which work to develop transport proposals for Government.

This will mean Kate will play a leading part in standing up for the region and lobbying Government for further investment across Staffordshire and the North Midlands. The manufacturing corridor identified runs the full length of the A50 from south of Derby to the A500 just outside Nantwich.

Possible economic developments the NMMC will be calling for include upgrades to the A50, which Kate has already been pushing hard for, along with improved access to East Midlands Airport and HS2 as well as improving local connectivity and journey times.

Kate has wasted no time in championing the region and is set to meet next week with both the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma MP, as well as the BEIS Select Committee Chair, Darren Jones MP.

Kate said, “I am delighted to have been asked by Midlands Connect to be the Project Champion for the North Midlands Manufacturing Corridor. Our region is critically important to the wider economy and it is important we see the necessary improvements to local infrastructure to drive future growth and better connectively for residents”.

“I have already been campaigning for the Project B upgrades to the A50 junction to the east of Uttoxeter and recently met with the Roads Minister to see how these proposals could be taken forward. I will continue to champion this development as well as the other potential infrastructure upgrades along the North Midlands Manufacturing Corridor to improve our region’s connectivity and productivity”.