News from Sheffield Labour

Sheffield’s Clive Betts tells Auckland to get back on track

Clive Betts MP (Sheffield Attercliffe) told Councillor Ian Auckland (Sheffield City Council Cabinet Member for Transport) to “grow up, if you want to be taken seriously”.

Clive Betts was responding to Councillor Auckland’s statement that Lord Adonis was “snubbing” Sheffield during his nationwide tour of the country’s rail network.

Clive Betts said:

“As Councillor Auckland well knows, far from snubbing Sheffield, Lord Adonis had already committed himself to coming on a special visit to Sheffield in the near future to meet both MPs and City Council representatives.

“If Councillor Auckland thinks that getting Lord Adonis to travel through Sheffield station on his nationwide tour is a good substitute for a proper meeting to discuss real issues like:

* the barrier proposals at Sheffield Station
* the future of the Midland Mainline
* the opportunities for Sheffield to be included in new high-speed rail links, and
* Sheffield as the possible location for a new manufacturing plant to build the new electric and diesel rolling stock by British-led consortium Agility Trains

then he needs his head looking at.

“He needs to grow up if he wants to be taken seriously.”

Clive Betts continued:

“Despite Councillor Auckland’s inept attempt to antagonise the Transport Minister – which is not a very clever thing to do if you want serious discussions and negotiations – I am pleased to say that Richard Caborn MP (Sheffield Central) and I have been having some extremely helpful and positive discussions with Lord Adonis about rail issues and Sheffield in advance of the planned meeting.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012