Public prioritise transport in West Midlands

A report summarising the findings of a public consultation over what powers a mayoral West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) should have has been delivered to the government.

The consultation, which asked bodies and groups what they believed was needed for a West Midlands mayor and the WMCA to deliver the devolution agreement from last November, found that found transport and employment are the top priorities for residents.

The proposal that received the strongest backing from residents was that the mayoral WMCA should have powers to deliver ‘an efficient integrated West Midlands Transport Network, more funding and more effective and coordinated improvements of road networks between constituent councils and partners’, with 79 per cent of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing.

Additionally, 77 per cent of respondents believe that the mayoral WMCA should have powers ‘to deliver better skills and training’, and 71 per cent saying it should deliver ‘low emissions and clean air zones’.

Councillor Bob Sleigh, the chair of the WMCA, said: “The summary of consultation responses shows broad support for how a mayoral combined authority will work to deliver the first devolution deal. A condition of our first devolution agreement was an elected mayor.

“We have accepted this because of the significance of the agreement to the region’s economy – an extra £36.5 million a year to the region over the next 30 years – which will unlock an £8 billion investment package.”

The consultation took place between 4 July and 21 August this year.