Around 74,000 jobs could be created and £4billion added to the East Midlands’ economy if a planned HS2 high speed rail line is routed through the region, says a new report on the major project.

Phase 2 of the national HS2 high speed rail network plans for a western (Crewe to Manchester) and an eastern leg (West Midlands to Leeds). The eastern leg includes a regional HS2 ‘rail hub’ at Toton, Nottinghamshire, and a network maintenance depot at Staveley, near Chesterfield; and the western leg (towards Manchester) will bring associated benefits to north Derbyshire.

The Government announced on November 15 it would be taking the Phase 2 proposals forward as its preferred route. Further public consultation will be needed but if the route receives planning permission it could be operational by 2033.

An initial East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy report – launched November 18 – estimates the HS2 plans could create an extra 74,000 jobs in the East Midlands and add £4billion to the region’s economy by 2042, around ten years after trains begin running.

The East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy report details what the proposed HS2 regional route could do for the study area, which has a population of 3.15million and contains 109,000 businesses. Advantages laid out in the publication include:

• 74,000 new jobs (both directly related to HS2 and indirectly, such as supply chain companies) in a wide range of sectors; including local rail sector firms but also companies connected with engineering, manufacturing, construction, real estate and logistics.
• Quicker regional rail journeys, as HS2 removes some of the pressure from the current rail network, and faster connections between East Midlands’ cities and main towns and other parts of the UK. For example, Nottingham to London in 68 minutes (current average 104 minutes), Derby to Leeds in 50 minutes (current average 77) and Leicester to Newcastle in 142 minutes (current average 205).

Further advantages for Chesterfield include:

• A regional HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, five miles north-east of Chesterfield, to serve Midlands’ HS2 lines. This site would also see the remediation of around 150 hectares of brownfield land; to create space for 1,500 homes and 30 hectares of employment land, with the site supporting up to 800 new jobs.
• Potential for enhanced economic benefits, from linking of the HS2 plans for the Chesterfield area into the new proposed growth strategy for northern and central Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire; and from the increased connectivity this will bring between the area and points east and west.
• Opportunities for passengers to get on/off high-speed services at Chesterfield Station would boost the local economy and increase north Derbyshire’s attractiveness for businesses looking to set-up, expand or relocate.

Councillor Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire County Council and Vice-Chair of East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, added:-

“The benefits are clear. Routing HS2 through the East Midlands would boost the local economy, bring more jobs and provide opportunities for local businesses to expand.

“We’re continuing to work with HS2 Ltd to maximise economic benefit, while minimising the disruption to communities; and making sure we get the best possible outcome for Derbyshire residents, businesses and others along the route.”

Toby Perkins MP visited Chesterfield College today and pledged his support for a call to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase investment in further education when he makes his Autumn Statement on 23rd November.

As a member of the Association of Colleges, Chesterfield College has joined other further education providers from across the country urging the Government to ensure the provision of high quality technical and professional education and training can continue to meet local needs.

At a time when student numbers are rising but funding is forecast to fall, the Association of Colleges is urging for spending on education and training to increase from 4.5% to 5% of GDP. They point out this will help to train more teachers in maths, engineering, and health and care, for example. Publicly-funded further education and sixth form colleges are also currently subject to VAT. They believe that on the day that the UK leaves the EU, this must stop.

Stuart Cutforth, Principal of Chesterfield College highlighted the crucial role the college plays in making sure local businesses can recruit employees from Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire with the skills they need at the same time as improving the life chances of local residents. He said:-

“Colleges are at the forefront of providing a skilled workforce as well as inspiring futures and changing the lives of the students who we work with. Without investment in further education our ability to do that will be seriously compromised and local people will be seriously disadvantaged.

“I want to see this college, where I was inspired to follow the career path I love, to carry on making a difference to people and businesses in the area for many more years. That is why we are asking the Chancellor to consider how crucial his decisions are to current and future students.”

Toby Perkins MP said:-

“Britain’s future depends on improving productivity, where we lag behind our competitors. This needs a skilled workforce and investment in infrastructure.

“Colleges are crucial in providing the skills Britain needs but Further Education has borne the brunt of huge cuts.

“I hope the Chancellor will listen to this plea for the shot in the arm Chesterfield College needs.”

Data recently released from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Chesterfield in October was 1,125 – down 15 from last months figure of 1,140 and a considerable 55 less claimants than the 1,180 recorded 6 months ago in April.

However, overall the number of people out of work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire has increased in the last three months. The number of people unemployed rose 4,747 from 103,301 at the end of June to 108,048 at the end of September. The number of people in work fell 4,315 from 2,294,544 to 2,290,229 over the same periods.

Underlying trends continue to paint a more positive picture, however. The number of people in employment in the three months to the end of September 2016 was 22,547 higher than for the same three months in 2015 and 72,612 higher than two years ago.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“The underlying trend is the better indicator of the strength of the regional economy and that remains fairly positive.

“We’re not surprised, however, to see the figures levelling off. Immediately after the EU Referendum recruitment companies were reporting difficulties placing people. This was an expected reaction to the result of the vote, which surprised many people.

“We have been saying since the referendum that Government needs to be doing more to provide businesses with the reassurances they need that UK plc will continue to be a good place in which to invest after we leave the EU.

“The figures also show a need for Government to invest more today in closing the skills gap, the difference between what school-leavers can offer and the expectations of potential employers. The jobs are out there, but employers are reluctant in uncertain times to invest in long-term training.”

Defra Minister Lord Gardiner presented Chesterfield College with a Bees Needs award for one of the best youth projects in the UK designed to create bee friendly environments yesterday.

The Bees’ Needs Champions Awards, hosted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, brought together 30 champions to celebrate bee-friendly initiatives, from playgrounds to parks and farms to famous shopping streets.  The award, presented to Chesterfield College, recognised the importance of the work a group of foundation studies students did with Chesterfield Borough Council’s Park Development Officer, Sarah Poulton at Eastwood Park in Hasland earlier this year.

The students spent several weeks helping to make the community garden a blooming lovely place to be for the local community and local wildlife.Together with Sarah, they worked on looking after the garden by weeding, composting, maintaining gardening plots, sowing seeds and growing their own vegetables as well as preparing the area to grow wildflowers.

They also created some artwork for the garden and the park that helped to raise awareness about the importance of UK native wild flowers and plants. They worked with a local artist after they successfully applied for funding from Grow Wild, who inspire communities, to come together to transform local spaces, by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers.

Speaking ahead of the Bees’ Needs Champions Awards, Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity Lord Gardiner, said:-

“Pollinators are essential for food production and the environment. The Bees’ Needs champions show us how to keep our pollinators happy and healthy all year round, and their efforts are an inspiration for us all. They show that whether you have access to acres of land or just a window box, everyone can play a part in helping these vital insects thrive.”

Kerrie Robertson, Student Enrichment Co-ordinator at Chesterfield College collected the award at the celebration event at Kew. She said:-

“We are so proud that the work the students did on this project has been recognised by DEFRA. It is thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of Sarah and Chesterfield Borough Council that the students were given this opportunity to get involved in a project that not only benefits the local community but also gave them different and new experiences. Developing these kinds of skills ignites a passion in students that lasts a lifetime or gives them additional skills that are useful in everyday life.”

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added:-

“One of the council’s key priorities is improving the quality of life for local people and we’re proud that our staff and the borough’s parks have played a part in helping local young people in developing a sustainable environment.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust have recently applied for a grant from the Aviva Community Fund for an archaeological dig in Staveley next August. The Aviva Community Fund offers the public the opportunity to vote for community projects and worth while causes they believe will benefit from funding.

If the Trust gets enough votes and receives the grant, the dig will run for a fortnight overseen by a professional archaeologist. The project would serve a number of goals; providing an engaging and education experience for the local community, raise public awareness of the canal and its environment and potentially uncover interesting artefacts that can be conserved for display and education purposes.

The Last Cuckoo Project is a community history and archaeological project with a focus on the Chesterfield Canal at Bellhouse Lane, Staveley. The canal basin, now a small, insignificant patch of overgrown wasteland was once a thriving industrial complex with wharves, tramways, gas works and a lost, unique Chesterfield Canal narrowboat (cuckoo). The funding would cover all necessary costs associated with the dig including a professional archaeologist, a machine digger and driver, insurance, tools and PPE and conservation costs.

Andy Robertson, a representative from the Chesterfield Canal Trust who applied for the grant commented:

“Please vote for our project and help us secure the funds we need to build an amazing, educational and exciting community event in Staveley!”

Voting closes this Friday. To find out more information or vote click here.