Chesterfield residents urged to get behind bid for Derby to become the new home of the Great British Railways
Train drivers and business leaders – plus a real-life pirate – have all shown their support as Derby bids to be the home of the Great British Railway.
Derby is on a shortlist of six cities who are hoping to be chosen as the national headquarters. Great British Railways will be the new, single public body responsible for running and transforming Britain’s railways.
The city already has the backing of Local Authorities across the East Midlands and has received support from Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Leicester and Leicestershire, alongside 21 MPs from across the region.
Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, believes that Derby is “the perfect place as the home of railways” and has written a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
He said: “Derby’s geographic location and transport links are perfectly situated at the heart of the country’s rail network and would provide the ideal setting for linking together the north and south of Britain.
“Locating the new HQ in Derby would be very beneficial for the Great British Railways and would bring in much-needed investment and skilled jobs to the city, which would benefit the whole of Derbyshire and the East Midlands region.”
Jan Manfredi of Clay Cross-based award-winning ice-cream company Smith’s Creamland Ices and voluntary engine driver Debbie Jackson, who drives popular steam train ‘Little David’ through Matlock’s Hall Leys Park, are giving the bid their backing.
Even Captain Jack Sparrow, who was visiting Matlock Bath recently, has voted for Derby to be the next home of the Great British Railways. He said: “Arrghh, Derby gets my vote every time.”
Leading public relations company Penguin PR, who have offices in Derby and Chesterfield, are also supporting the bid. Director Simon Burch said: “Anyone who lives in Derby knows someone who works or used to work on the railways and there are reminders of our railway heritage everywhere, so the city has got rail tracks running through its veins.
“But as a local business owner and dad to two children, I realise how the region’s future relies on attracting projects of this calibre. Derby has been living in the shadows for too long when it comes to national recognition and attracting Government investment. I can’t think of a project that the city is more suited for, nor deserves as much.
“That’s why we’re supporting the bid and have placed our votes for Derby.”
But more votes are needed before the August 15 deadline. You can vote for Derby to be the location for the Great British Railways by clicking on the link here: Great British Railways Headquarters vote – Page 1 of 3 – Great British Railways – Citizen Space (gbrtt.co.uk)
