Marches leaders head to Westminster with call to unlock rural growth
Leaders from the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP) are taking their case to Westminster on Monday, setting out how a stronger cross-border partnership could help Government deliver economic growth, strengthen national resilience and unlock investment in rural Britain.
Representatives from Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys and Monmouthshire will join parliamentarians, ministers, senior officials and industry leaders at the House of Commons to showcase a growing pipeline of projects already delivering benefits across the Marches and to make the case for greater Government backing.
Their message is that the MFP is not waiting for change to happen. It is already bringing together local authorities, businesses, universities and infrastructure partners to tackle some of the UK’s most pressing challenges, including economic growth, food security, water resilience, energy, skills and environmental recovery.
The proposition is that rural areas are not simply places that need support, but places that can help drive national prosperity if given the tools, flexibility and investment to reach their full potential.
The partnership will highlight how joined-up thinking across the England-Wales border is creating opportunities that individual organisations could not achieve alone, from green growth and digital innovation programmes to the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, a flagship project designed to improve water security, manage flood risk and unlock long-term economic opportunities in the UK’s most important river catchment.
Heather Kidd, leader of Shropshire Council and speaking for the Marches Forward Partnership, said:-
“For too long, rural areas have been seen through the lens of challenge. We want to change that conversation.
“The region has the assets, expertise and ambition to make a major contribution to the UK’s future. From food and farming to environmental innovation, water resilience and clean growth, we are already delivering solutions that matter nationally.
“What makes us different is our willingness to work together across boundaries and focus on getting things done. We are taking that message to Westminster because we believe this partnership can become a model for how rural areas help drive growth, investment and resilience for the whole country.
“Our offer is greater than our ask. With the right support, we can accelerate delivery, attract further investment and bring benefits that reach far beyond the Marches.”
The event marks the latest step in the partnership’s ambition to position the Marches as a national pathfinder for rural growth and resilience, demonstrating how closer collaboration between places, sectors and governments can turn shared challenges into opportunities for communities, businesses and investors alike.
There is a £2.5m funding ask of both UK and Welsh governments to support governance and future delivery.
