← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Small Towns: Transport Links
03 June 2026
Lead MP
Andy MacNae
Responding Minister
Simon Lightwood
Tags
EconomyTransport
Word Count: 14795
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Andy MacNae raised concerns about small towns: transport links in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
MacNae called on the Government to ensure active travel is integrated into the wider transport system and urged local authorities like Blackburn with Darwen to proactively work with schools for safer travel initiatives. He also asked the Minister to support the implementation of bus funding policy, rail links such as the City Valley link proposal, and the restoration of Lower Darwen station.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Connectivity is crucial for small towns' economic growth, health, independence, and sense of belonging. Andy MacNae highlighted the lack of connectivity impacting active travel options such as walking and cycling due to safety concerns. He pointed out that only 30% of children in small towns walk or ride to school compared to 60% in cities, citing a petition with 1,400 signatures from his constituent William Cartwright requesting safe crossings near schools.
To end the exemption for old buses that are not fully accessible under the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 will mean that kids from rural constituencies will not be able to get a place on a bus to sixth form anymore, due to the limited bus stock and funding.
Hume drew attention to the poor train service in Whitby, comparing it unfavorably with Newquay. She highlighted that only six trains operate daily on the Whitby-Middlesbrough line, leading to difficulties for residents needing hospital appointments and employment opportunities. Hume also mentioned a dedicated community rail partnership that runs the line but faces significant challenges due to insufficient investment.
Amanda Hack
Con
North West Leicestershire
Coalville and Ashby face significant transport challenges despite not being small towns; issues include cancelled bus services leaving people stranded, lack of rail service, and disconnected new housing estates from town centres. The night-time economy suffers as a result.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Wirral South
The biggest single issue holding back economic growth in his constituency is the poor transport connections. In a non-mayoral area, we have found it difficult to access development funding to solve that problem. Asked Edward Morello about the impact of road potholes on transportation, noting underfunding by previous governments and highlighting current government efforts to address this issue with significant resources.
Anna Sabine
Con
Frome Vale
She highlighted systemic issues in bus services, such as the failure of five services on May 18, causing significant disruption to constituents' daily lives. She emphasised that transport is not just about economic growth but also about inclusivity and safety, particularly for women.
Small towns and large villages share similar challenges; for instance, in Winterbourne, people are unsure whether they will have a regular, reliable bus service once the M4 overbridge reopens.
David Chadwick
Ind
Brecon and Radnor
Transport options in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe are poor. The T4 bus service changes have made travel to Cardiff longer and less reliable for elderly and disabled residents.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Edward Leigh highlighted the importance of direct train links for small towns, citing Market Rasen as an example where a £1 million investment could connect Grimsby to London but has been consistently ignored. He criticised bureaucratic excuses and called for resources to be directed towards rural communities instead of large-scale projects like HS2.
Edward Morello
Lib Dem
West Dorset
Transport connectivity is crucial for young people to access education and employment opportunities, with 57% of the working-age population living in areas with low public transport access. Local bus services have declined by up to 80% in some areas, affecting evening and weekend travel. The Liberal Democrats advocate a single integrated transport fund and restoring a £2 bus fare cap to improve services.
Greg Smith
Lab
Stockton North
The importance of connecting small towns with affordable, reliable transport is critical. The 2024 national travel survey showed that car trips made up 76% of distance travelled and in rural areas this figure was even higher. Greg Smith criticised the Government's integrated transport plan for not recognising the dominance of cars and buses in supporting local travel needs.
She intervened to raise concerns about poor rail access in Denton, noting a lack of trains despite existing infrastructure and passengers, calling for equal ambition for connectivity as seen in other parts of the country.
Iqbal Mohamed
Lab
Dewsbury and Batley
Buses are the backbone of everyday life in Dewsbury and Batley, but services have declined due to operator withdrawals, rising costs, driver shortages, and post-covid effects. Arriva's cuts and Yorkshire Buses' cessation illustrate this fragility. Services across West Yorkshire have been affected, leading to immediate real consequences for constituents.
In Swanscombe, home to the collapsed Galley Hill Road, its train station is in a deep chalk cutting with no accessibility; it is about not just having modes of transport but making them accessible to all.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He highlighted the growing disparity in transport provision between urban and rural areas, noting that almost a fifth of all rural bus routes in England disappeared over five years. This has led to increased reliance on cars and social exclusion for vulnerable groups like the elderly and lower-income households.
Joe Morris focused on the campaign to reopen Gilsland station, which closed in 1967 due to the Beeching report. He emphasised its economic and social benefits for Northumberland's tourism industry and local communities. Morris also discussed road safety concerns, urging proactive measures from local authorities.
Julie Minns
SNP
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Thanks the Minister for mentioning new pilots; Cumberland is one of those areas. Cumberland council uses the allocated money to introduce bus links like HW1 route offering visitor access to Hadrian's Wall.
When we think about growth, we need to be strategic in how we connect our railways and buses. A new airport is opening in Doncaster, and it's important to consider how this connects with the rail network.
Linsey Farnsworth addressed the issue of inconsistent train fares within her constituency. She described a scenario where splitting a journey can result in significant cost savings, which disadvantages those who are unaware of this loophole or less digitally literate. Farnsworth called for reforms to ensure fare structures are fair and transparent.
Lloyd Hatton
Lab
South Dorset
Mr. Hatton highlighted issues with the Weymouth to London Waterloo train service, including delays, poor wi-fi, lack of on-board food services, and inaccessible toilets. He praised the reopening of an accessible toilet at Weymouth station but stressed that more improvements are needed. Mr. Hatton also discussed challenges faced by rural communities in accessing reliable bus services, citing examples from Bovington and Harman's Cross where residents face isolation due to insufficient public transport.
He congratulated fellow MPs for their speeches and discussed his efforts to improve transport connectivity in his constituency, including securing £5 million for park-and-ride services. He also suggested a northern Oyster card system for seamless travel between cities and towns.
Martin Vickers
Con
Cleethorpes
Martin Vickers highlighted the difficulties in transportation within his constituency, despite its large number of railway stations and major port. He emphasized the long-standing campaign for a direct service from Cleethorpes to London, which faces Department for Transport objections. Additionally, he raised concerns about rail connectivity issues affecting towns such as Brigg and Barton-upon-Humber.
A constituent had a stroke and was stranded in a rural village with no bus service after jumping through all the hoops required by the DVLA to get his driving licence restored, highlighting that both DVLA delays and lack of rural bus services need addressing.
The recent changes to funding formulas for public transport are detrimental to rural communities like Chippenham, where there is uncertainty about bus services due to these changes. The Minister needs to relook at some of the funding formulas.
Sarah Russell
Con
Congleton
Strikes have affected Sunday train services in Congleton, and Sandbach station lacks accessibility features. Bus issues include overcapacity, unreliability, and recruitment challenges due to lack of transport access for employers.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
He discussed the importance of rail connectivity in towns like Mansfield, advocating for two rail schemes: the Robin Hood line extension and the Maid Marian line. He argued that these projects are crucial for economic growth and regeneration.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Morton highlighted the need for a train station in Aldridge to improve connectivity and life chances. She noted that while there is a railway line, no train station exists, which hinders local residents' access to essential services and employment opportunities in Walsall. Morton emphasized the importance of securing funding to reopen the Aldridge-Walsall rail link and expressed frustration over the loss of mayoral support for the project. Wendy Morton intervened to ask the Minister to work with her to get answers from Mayor Parker regarding the delivery of Aldridge train station.
Government Response
Simon Lightwood
Government Response
Responded to the debate on improving transport links in small towns, emphasizing the Better Connected strategy for an integrated transport network. Highlighted £21 billion in local transport funding through simplified multi-year settlements and discussed the Bus Services Act 2025 with £3 billion allocated for bus service improvements over three years. Mentioned active travel infrastructure investment of £626 million for walking, wheeling, and cycling schemes. Discussed franchising support and rail reliability improvement measures.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.