The important role rural areas like North Yorkshire must play in energising the Northern Powerhouse has been recognised in talks between the recently appointed Northern Powerhouse Minister and the Leader of North Yorkshire County Council.
Jake Berry MP, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, met County Council Leader Cllr Carl Les on Monday as part of a three-day visit to the North-East, Yorkshire and the Humber.
Cllr Les said: “The Minister was pleased to discuss the major economic opportunities that exist in North Yorkshire and how the Northern Powerhouse needs to ensure it properly harnesses the full benefits of the county’s rural areas, villages and towns.
“I highlighted the strengths of the North Yorkshire economy to the Northern Powerhouse, such as the investments in potash, agri-tech at Fera, the visitor economy and our investment in high-speed broadband, and the Minister recognises this.
“We discussed the strong north-south transport connections that already exist through the region and the importance on now establishing better east-west connections, including along the A64, A59 and the northern York ring road, to open up opportunities for growth.”
Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry said: “The Northern Powerhouse is about economic growth and creating jobs. Rural areas have a vital role to play and I had a very productive meeting with the leader and chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council.
“North Yorkshire is exemplified by its expanding rural businesses, such as Tennants Auctioneers, now one of the leading auction venues in the country, who have just made a major investment in the area. The county is proof that northern businesses are at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.”