News: Rotherham's regeneration highlighted in Parliament

The regeneration of former coalfield areas in Rotherham has been highlighted in Parliament.

Rother Valley MP took the opportunity to update the House of Commons on transformed areas of the borough during a high-profile debate on the Budget last week.

Mr Barron highlighted the success of the investment at the site of the former Dinnington colliery and described how the public and private sectors had worked to attract companies such as Johnston Press who invested £62 million in a state-of-the-art print facility.

He also highlighted the site's diverse economy and the hundreds of jobs created, some very high-tech. He also mentioned that Dinnington is home to a Formula One team, Virgin Racing, created when Rotherham's Manor Grand Prix teamed up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin brand.

Mr Barron went on to discuss the Advanced Manufacturing Park, built on the Orgreave colliery site in Rotherham that "has been changed dramatically into something that really shows the way forward." He outlined the park as the UK's recognised centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing and highlighted some of the world-leading research and development taking place at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing.

Mr Barron also took the opportunity to put forward the proposed government campus at the Waverley site as an ideal site to meet the intentions set out in the Budget to relocate 15,000 civil servants outside London.

Housing Minister and Wentworth MP John Healey recently launched a wide-ranging Coalfield Regeneration Review into the regeneration of former coal mining areas.

Kevin Barron website
Rotherham


Images: kevinbarronmp.com