Derbyshire could be bypassed by a new era of high-speed rail links, with potentially dire consequences for its future prosperity, according to the region's Chamber of Commerce.
The warning follows the publication of a report by multinational engineering and design company Atkins, which shows that journey times to London could be reduced to 79 minutes from Sheffield, 74 minutes from Manchester and 60 minutes from Birmingham
by developing existing west and east coast mainline routes.
Atkins calculates the £31billion cost of building the network would boost the national economy by £63 billion, but, says the Chamber, while the report says there would be advantages to serving the East Midlands, it pays scant attention to Derby or Nottingham.
What do you think? Post your comment below.George Watson, managing director of Chesterfield-based public transport consultancy Elan, and a member of the Chamber's Derbyshire members' council, said: "This piecemeal development is dangerous.
"It is important to the economy of the East Midlands that we should be fighting for a properly planned high-speed rail network."
Chamber chief executive George Cowcher says Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire could become an economic backwater without the best possible connections to the South East.
"Given the long-term nature of planning major infrastructure, we need to be marshalling our arguments now and ensuring our influence is felt at the highest levels."
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