East Lancashire Freight Rail Terminal Pledge Letter

#AmazingAccrington business leaders met to discuss the plans, including representatives from Studio, the area’s largest employer, the Department for International Trade, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Northern Automotive Alliance, Chamber of Commerce East Lancs, Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, and many businesses who would welcome a freight rail terminal.

Importantly, it’s not just core businesses who use freight who would be affected – all businesses benefit from the future economic success of our region.

The meeting proved real interest and commitment for the proposal. It was deemed important for the competitiveness of the businesses needing to import and export their freight to Europe and to the world, and to reduce carbon intense road shipping to the last mile. If containers are moved from road to rail, that represents a 76% carbon emissions saving – helping all businesses strengthen their green credentials.

One company just 200 yards from the designated land brings in 1000 containers a year, and just the nearest industrial estate takes over 10 thousand containers a year. One company in Hyndburn is targeting a turnover of more than £750m in the next few years. We need to have an infrastructure to support growth.

There are 2,865 businesses in Hyndburn alone and over 21,000 in Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Darwen, the Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

The urgent requirement for this freight rail terminal is clear. Businesses have already since the meeting pledged support in helping to match fund the cost of the economic feasibility study, and we have £10k secured in funds already to put towards Government funding.