General Election: What will Newark candidates do to improve connectivity to major cities and between towns and villages?
Ahead of the upcoming general election, the Advertiser asked readers to share questions they would like answering by candidates vying to become their next MP.
Being a rural constituency, connectivity between towns and villages, and also to major cities, was a topic of interest.
Newark candidates were asked: “What will you do to improve connectivity in Nottinghamshire, not just to major cities like London but also between the county's towns and villages?”
Here are their responses, in alphabetical order:
Saj Ahmad — Labour
“Newark is fairly well-connected to Nottingham and, north and south, on the East Coast Mainline. Service reliability can be a problem.
“Getting to other places across the constituency or between villages is really difficult. Ludicrously, most buses going to Newark don’t go to Newark Northgate Station!
“I’m determined to help reform this broken situation. Labour will give local leaders power to franchise local bus services and lift the ban on municipal ownership. This will give local control over routes and schedules.
“East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, will better integrate transport systems. The aim will be seamless journeys.
“Labour has pledged to fix an additional one million potholes a year across England making roads safer for cars, cyclists and pedestrians. Labour will also support drivers by tackling the soaring cost of car insurance.
“Labour will gradually bring the railways back into public ownership and put passenger needs first to build a more unified and efficient railway system.”
Adrian Amer — Independent
“I would promote more train services between Newark and Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, Leicester and other regional towns and cities, and bus services and bus shuttle services between the major towns in our constituency and the villages that do not already exist.
“I would encourage people to use library services that exist and promote all community groups to foster communication between their own residents but also work hand in hand with other community groups and provide the financial assistance to do so.
“I would encourage the young and old to participate in as much charity work as possible so that all sections of society can meet each other on equal terms and develop healthy long term friendship and co-operation with each other that benefits all parties.
“I would develop a system of mobile educational, library and health services to visit all our villages on a rotating basis in order to foster health and well being. Sporting and environmental interests must be taken into account to help encourage further connectivity.”
Lyn Galbraith — Independent
“Current connectivity is inadequate.
“Living in Rampton we have no bus service and the Notts on Demand service is not always helpful, convenient or cheap especially if required last minute or frequently.
“I propose a fleet of communal cars that can be borrowed as and when needed by residents, perhaps to attend a GP appointment or go shopping and not have to lug it all back on the bus.
“Alongside this, I would champion ‘volunteers’ to provide a taxi service from villages to towns for those who can’t drive, for whatever reason.
“‘Volunteers’ would be paid a small on-call wage to be available on a specific day a week.
“This initiative aims to provide flexibility and independence to those without personal transportation, ensuring all residents can access essential services and amenities efficiently.
“Funding for the current bus services, such as they are, must not be reduced.”
Robert Jenrick — Conservative
“After ten years of campaigning I have secured the £500m from the government to dual the A46 and end the gridlock around the town. Shovels we will be in the ground next year.
“I also secured the £100m to build the southern link road at Middlebeck.
“I’ve fought to keep local bus routes when threatened and support the Conservatives £2 bus fair.
“I secured an extra £13m for the County Council to fill in potholes, which are a disgrace. I will hold them to account for fixing the local roads.
“In recent years, I have successfully secured the restoration of an hourly train service between Lincoln and Nottingham, passing through Newark.
“I have also addressed accessibility concerns at level crossings in Bingham, working with Network Rail, Rushcliffe Borough Council, and local councillors to make pedestrian crossings more wheelchair-friendly.
“Despite setbacks in upgrading the bridge over Bingham railway station, we remain determined to find a resolution.
“I am committed to enhancing all transport options in our constituency and will continue this work as I have done over the last decade.”
Robert Palmer — Reform UK
“By ending the relentless fuel duty rises reform will allow the cheaper running of cars, taxis and buses.
“The price of oil has long been known to have a direct effect on the economy. The other parties are all planning to reduce car usage through punitive taxation.
“Only Reform will get the nation moving again.”
David Watts — Liberal Democrats
“My strong instinct is always to seek to improve public transport, and buses between rural communities are still a vital lifeline for many people.
“We need to ensure that these are sustainable and national government needs to ensure that there are funds available to support rural and less well used routes.
“Even though some routes do not have large patronage they are still vital for those who do use them.
“At the same time the roads in Nottinghamshire have been allowed to deteriorate to an appalling state and they need urgent action.
“As an MP I would lobby government, the county council and the new regional mayor to ensure that our roads are improved as soon as possible.”
All nine Newark candidates were invited to contribute their answers, however Michael Ackroyd (Green), Matthew Darrington (English Democrats), and Collan Siddique (Workers Party of Britain), did not provide a response.
The UK General Election is scheduled to take place on July 4.
The candidates confirmed for the Newark constituency are (listed alphabetically):
• Michael Ackroyd - Green Party
• Saj Ahmad - Labour
• Adrian Amer - Independent
• Matthew Darrington - English Democrats
• Lyn Galbraith - Independent
• Robert Jenrick - Conservative
• Robert Palmer - Reform UK
• Collan Siddique - Workers Party of Britain
• David Watts - Liberal Democrats
