Harriett Baldwin has today called for a wide-ranging strategy to improve the county’s infrastructure and aid economic growth. The MP has written to Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chairman Peter Pawsey setting out an agenda for improving the county’s transport links over the next six years. The LEP will receive nearly €70 million from EU budgets to enhance the county’s transport infrastructure. Business Minister Michael Fallon announced the news and confirmed that local enterprise partnerships will have much more freedom to spend EU funds on local projects as part of a deal struck by Prime Minister David Cameron last year in EU budget negotiations. Harriett has set out a list of transport infrastructure projects which are essential to support Worcestershire’s economic growth. These include building of a major new Worcestershire parkway and rail interchange at Norton Junction 7 and the completion of the dualling of the southern link road around Worcester including adding a new span to the Carrington Bridge. The MP has also called for bridgeworks and improvements to the A44 link from Pershore to the Keytech trading estate and the long-overdue completion of dual tracks on the Cotswold Line to Oxford. Harriett commented: “I welcome this substantial funding for Worcestershire’s economic growth which has come about because our Prime Minister has helped to bring back some regional funds from the European Union. It is much better to decide on our priorities locally rather than in Brussels. “Many of my local businesses and residents say that transport links are the biggest blockage to growth and productivity. “These projects will help accelerate Worcestershire’s jobs and will form an essential part of our long-term growth plan for Worcestershire. The LEP has already been instrumental in getting projects underway in Kidderminster, Worcester and Fladbury. “I hope the LEP will look seriously at my constituents’ wish list and deliver a plan which will see these important projects scheduled as soon as possible.”