Lib Dems call for clarity as Haxby Station project left ‘in limbo’
Liberal Democrats in York have hit out after the Government’s Budget announcement effectively left the Haxby Station project ‘in limbo.’
Shortly after their General Election victory, the Labour Government scrapped funding for the “Restoring your Railways” programme that included Haxby Station. The Chancellor’s Budget statement on 30 October referred to a number of rail capital investment programmes, but there was no mention of the Haxby Station project.
And with determination of the planning application for the new station likely to be pushed back to 2025, there are concerns that the scheme is now ‘in limbo.’
Haxby & Wigginton Lib Dem by-election candidate Richard Watson has asked for urgent clarification from the Government whether the Haxby Station project is to receive any funding.
“I am shocked that despite Labour promising voters time after time that Haxby Station would be built, they have used their first Budget seemingly to scrap it. If this is the case, then the residents of Haxby & Wigginton have an opportunity to send a message to Labour on 28th November that they want to see the promised investment come to our community.
“Residents in York’s northern villages need this station to increase connectivity with York and beyond. Residents, like me, are rightly furious that they have had a station dangled in front of them by the Government for many years only for it to be taken away at the last minute. If Labour truly wish to protect the environment and ease traffic, then the station should be a priority.”