I will secure transformative investment into infrastructure in South Shropshire to bring necessary change such as fixing the roads and upgrading school and hospital buildings.
It is clear that people in South Shropshire often feel left behind by the big cities when it comes to infrastructure and investment. I want to address this directly in my work as the MP, by bringing the money for essential projects in South Shropshire. This will continue the work of Philip Dunne, the previous MP for Ludlow, and other Conservative MPs who helped secure an incredible £350 million for the Hospital Transformation Programme in Shropshire.
One of the biggest issues people bring up with me is the state of our roads in South Shropshire. I have already run a survey on this issue and invited the Roads Minister to hear local concerns. This will be one key element of the campaign for investment. Roads in the area are in dire need of lasting repairs and upgrades.
I also want to ensure that South Shropshire has sufficient public infrastructure for the future. This means securing investment for public buildings and backing new and exciting projects such as rail links to boost the surrounding areas. I welcomed the Rail Minister to Ironbridge to hear about an exciting Very Light Rail proposal.
I was delighted to help secure £6,000 for road safety in Morville. It follows a meeting I convened in November with key partners including Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and local activist Dominic Stanford. The funding is for new Vehicle Activated Speed signs in Morville. It is part of a wider strategy to improve road safety in the village, which includes an extension of the speed limit and gateway improvements.
I am pleased that Shropshire Council has been awarded more than £650,000 from the Active Travel Fund that was originally set up by the last government. The funding can be used to increase cycling and walking schemes and enhance rural connections.
I am delighted that Ludlow Train Station now has step-free access, after my predecessor Philip Dunne successfully secured investment from the Department for Transport to instal new lifts. It was excellent to attend the opening in March 2025, although I was on crutches at the time! I think accessibility is part of people's everyday life - if you don't consider it, you're basically saying 'you cannot travel this way.'
The £2.6 billion Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has seen more than £12 million invested across South Shropshire to support businesses and communities including:
- Bridgnorth Town Council received £30,000 to commission a business needs survey to see how the town could be helped, with one possible outcome of a ‘Business Improvement District’ being considered.
- Marches Forward Partnership launched in 2023 with a plan to unlock new investment into the English and Welsh border region that is home to 750,000 people.
The Partnership brings together strategic joint working between Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys and Monmouthshire local authorities. It covers a population of approximately 737,000 residents and covers an area of approximately 1,140,000 hectares and helping to increase investment and accelerate delivery of key infrastructure projects. UKSPF funding supports feasibility activities to test and pilot projects that support how communities and places operate as a functional geography rather than being constrained by the current administrative boundaries.
The River Severn Partnership was awarded £3.75 million from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to create one of 10 Wireless Innovation Regions in the UK. The award is focused on the delivery of the Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023. It will see sensors installed in the River Clun to maintain consistent measuring of phosphate levels which will provide an independent and scientifically accurate measurement regime that could baseline the current nutrient and silt levels in the river and monitor the effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures being piloted by Shropshire Council.
As Member of Parliament for South Shropshire, I am committed to:
Listening to the areas of South Shropshire where investment is most necessary;
Supporting projects that will bring a lasting positive impact to the area;
Delivering the funding and support we need.
Sign up to the newsletter and follow Stuart on social media to see more updates on his plan for South Shropshire.
