Business Matters: Craig Whittaker MP, Calder Valley | Episode 52

Transport for the North Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Transport for the North Podcast! Join our new Business Matters series, which looks at transport investment as an enabling force to encourage job creation, economic growth and increased access to opportunity for the 16 million people living here. This time we speak with Craig Whittaker MP, who tells us about his role as the Member of Parliament for the Calder Valley. He says the area has an incredibly diverse range of industries, from advanced vehicle manufacturing to TV filming, as towns in his constituency play host to Sally Wainwright's Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax! Rooted in a history of textile manufacturing, the area is now a popular place to live as a commuter location but also functions as a cultural hub for local people, with towns such as Hebden Bridge being home to a variety of successful arts venues, with historical links to poets such as Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. Craig provides his views on levelling up, with a special recognition for the new Northern Class 195 rolling stock that has been introduced to the Calder Valley Line in recent years to replace the old pacer trains, and expresses his wishes for the line to be electrified. However, he also speaks about the important role that healthcare services and flood resilience can play with providing a better quality of life for his constituents, whilst informing us about upcoming plans. You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North! Please note that this podcast episode was recorded in February 2022.