The arrival of Andy Burnham in Downing Street has prompted Staffordshire County Council to raise two pressing concerns: the reduced A&E hours at County Hospital in Stafford, and the prospect of high-speed rail lines cutting through the county once again.
A&E under pressure
County Hospital's A&E currently operates only between 8am and 10pm. Stafford councillor Ann Edgeller reminded colleagues that Mr Burnham, during his time as shadow health secretary over a decade ago, had backed restoring the hospital's round-the-clock emergency service. She urged council leader Martin Murray to raise the issue directly with the new Prime Minister, pointing to the area's growing population and the Government's housebuilding ambitions as reasons why full A&E provision is more urgent than ever.
Councillor Murray echoed the concern, noting that patients who cannot be seen at Stafford must now travel as far as Wolverhampton or Stoke-on-Trent. He called the reduction in A&E cover "diabolical" given the number of new homes being built locally with no matching increase in hospital capacity.
HS2 and rail fears
Councillors also voiced alarm that Mr Burnham's known support for high-speed rail could lead to a revival of HS2 north of Lichfield, or push forward Northern Powerhouse Rail plans for a new Manchester to Birmingham line that would pass through Staffordshire.
Eccleshall councillor Jeremy Pert said HS2 "brings no benefit to Staffordshire", adding that landowners remain unpaid and communities have endured years of uncertainty. Councillor Philip White warned it was "deeply worrying" that Burnham may pursue the project without clear funding in place.
Councillor Murray said a route announcement in January had been made without even informing the county council or its chief executive, calling that unacceptable. He said any route through Staffordshire must involve proper consultation and include stops in the county.
Areas of common ground
Despite the tensions, councillors acknowledged some shared ground with the new Prime Minister. Burnham's backing for devolution was broadly welcomed, though members stressed it must extend beyond cities to rural and semi-rural counties like Staffordshire. Progress on SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) reform was also highlighted as a positive.
Source: stokesentinel.co.uk
