A local council has claimed their bid to reopen a railway line has been rejected by the Government. Ashfield District Council have said their bid to reopen the Maid Marian mineral line, which would have linked the district into Derbyshire, has been turned down.
According to the council, the Government argued the level of subsidy for the project would have been too high. They claimed the Government felt connectivity to Toton and HS2 would change this and subsequently promised to re-visit the decision in two years when they will review the Toton plans.
The plan would have seen the old mineral line reopened from Kirkby, through Pinxton and into Derbyshire. Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council said: “This is hugely disappointing news for Ashfield, our neighbours and partners. We all worked so hard on this and it shows the Government are not as serious as they say they are about investing in public transport. I feel desperately sorry for residents, especially young people in the Selston Parish hoping to access education and jobs.
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"This will be a body blow to our economy in rural places like Jacksdale, Selston and Underwood. The same can be said for staff at Kings Mill Hospital – carers and nurses will be severely hampered by this. The Government talk about levelling up but that must start with a fit for purpose public transport system. We will keep fighting however and will not give up on our dream.”
Ashfield District Council said they worked with neighbouring Bolsover Council, Erewash Council, Mansfield Council, the Discover Ashfield Board, Network Rail and Midlands Connect on the bid. Councillor Matthew Relf, Ashfield District Council’s Executive Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Transformation added: “The Government admitted that the business plan for the bid was extremely well written and presented. There will be many disappointed people tonight not just in Selston and Sutton but also Mansfield, Bolsover, Erewash and beyond. We have all worked together on this project and the impact on the wider area would have been phenomenal.
"This would have open up the ability for direct routes to places like Derby, which would give many people a greener option for travel, helping reduce traffic on the A38. We will continue working with Councils like Bolsover, Erewash and Mansfield to deliver the long held ambition for this line to be reopened.”
A government spokesperson said: "Officials will consider this scheme as part of the Integrated Rail Plan's assessment on Toton and the potential for a London St Pancras - Toton - Mansfield service. Therefore, this scheme is best progressed outside the Restoring Your Railway programme."
