Nottinghamshire County Council Conservatives call for Reform leadership to make bid to East Midlands Combined County Authority for share of £2bn Transport for City Regions fund for transport upgrades in Kelham, Bingham, and Gunthorpe

A group of councillors have called for the county’s administration to back a package of major transport upgrades — with a £2bn funding pot bid.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Conservative opposition have written to the Reform administration’s cabinet member for transport and the environment, Bert Bingham, to seek cross-party support for schemes including a new Trent crossing and accessibility upgrades at a railway station.

The letter, signed by opposition leader Sam Smith, shadow cabinet member for transport and the environment Mike Introna, Mike Adams, Neil Clarke, Stephen Pearson, Roger Jackson, and Sue Saddington, asks the authority to ‘seize the moment’ as the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) opens bids for its £2bn Transport for City Regions funding pot.

EMCCA announced the funding pot in June, having secured a five-year agreement with the Government, to ‘deliver a modern, reliable, and integrated transport system across the region’.

The Conservative group want a portion of the money to be secured for Nottinghamshire, to deliver a new River Trent crossing at Colwick, improvements at Kelham Bridge, better access for Gunthorpe village, and upgrades to better access Bingham railway station.

They claim this ‘could transform the county’s transport network’, and the opening of funding bids represented a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to progress the projects, which were drawn up by the previous Conservative administration.

Sam Smith said: “These schemes have been on the table for years. They’re ready to go, they’ll boost jobs, improve safety and cut congestion… don’t let these shovel-ready projects gather dust while the rest of the region gets ahead.

“Residents don’t care which party delivers it — they just want to see traffic moving, bridges built, and communities connected. The money is there. All it needs now is the Reform administrations backing.”

Proposals for a fourth Trent crossing at Colwick aim to ease congestion on the A612 and reduce HGV traffic through villages; upgrades at Kelham are suggested to involve a bypass or alternative crossing to ease strain on the Victorian bridge due to heavy traffic; traffic lights or a mini roundabout are suggested to improve access to Gunthorpe off the A6097 and reduce tailbacks; and additional parking and a footbridge are called for at Bingham station to reduce pressure on town centre parking and encourage rail use.

Mike Introna added: “The groundwork was done... the benefits are clear, and the funding is there through EMCCA. What we need now is political will from Reform to access the funding and turn plans into progress.”

The Conservatives stated their call is for a ‘united, cross-party effort’ to make sure Nottinghamshire secures its fair share of the regional investment, and asked for a meeting with the cabinet member to discuss proposals further.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been approached for comment.