Northern Powerhouse minister visits Warrington

THE Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse, James Wharton, highlighted the importance of Cheshire and Warrington in Government  plans for the Northern Powerhouse during a visit to the North West.
LEP board member and well-known music mogul Pete Waterman welcomed the  Minister to the region to discuss the key growth opportunities across Cheshire and Warrington including plans for HS2 and the major re-development of Crewe, as well as the assets identified along Cheshire’s Science Corridor and the £300million economic regeneration project happening at Chester city centre.
He was joined by representatives from the Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool LEPs to discuss Government’s wider ambition for the Northern Powerhouse.
Mr Wharton visited Birchwood Park, Warrington, to showcase the nationally significant nuclear cluster at Warrington, Thornton Science Park at Ellesmere Port, Jodrell Bank and Coleg Cambria in Deeside, one of the UK’s largest colleges with more than 7,000 full-time students.
He said: “The North West has a major role to play in the success of the Northern Powerhouse and today’s visit has shown just how much is happening on the ground.
“I have been really impressed with the level of close co-operation I have seen between the private sector, councils and local enterprise partnerships, and I have seen at first hand some really impressive results which are already driving growth.”
LEP board Member and managing director of TATA Chemicals, Dr Martin Ashcroft, said:    “The Minister’s visit has reinforced the importance of Cheshire and Warrington within Government’s vision for the Northern Powerhouse. We will continue to explore the opportunities for devolved powers and will work closely with neighbouring LEP’s to ensure that Cheshire and Warrington plays a key role in the future of the North.”
Pictured: Philip Cox (LEP chief executive), Steve Robinson (chief executive, Cheshire West and Chester Council), Steven Broomhead (chief executive and chairman of Cheshire and Warrington Sub Regional Management Board – Warrington Borough Council), Mike Hannon (deputy leader of Warrington Borough Council), Sam Dixon (leader of Chester West and Chester Council), James Wharton,  Michael Jones (leader of Cheshire East Council) , Martin Ashcroft (LEP board member) and Steve Park (managing director, Warrington and Co).