SWINDON is to join forces with towns and cities across the country to create a “strategic corridor” that will improve transport links with the south midlands and east of England.

The council has agreed to authorise leader David Renard to accept a formal invitation to join the England’s Economic Heartland group, which aims to improve transport and digital connectivity across the region.

EEH’s work with the National Infrastructure Commission, Highways England, and Network Rail has already secured investment for the East-West Rail and the Oxford-to-Cambridge Expressway schemes.

By joining the group, the council will be able to raise Swindon’s transport issues and opportunities at a national level with the aim of making the case for securing additional funding that will benefit the borough.

Coun Renard said: “We are very fortunate in Swindon to already benefit from excellent connectivity.

“It is what sets us apart from many other places and is one of the key reasons why we are successful as a town.

“We are committed to finding ways to continue improving our links with other successful areas of the UK, which is why joining England’s Economic Heartland is so important. It will allow us to make Swindon’s case for additional infrastructure investment and ensure that we benefit from the economic opportunities that are likely to occur along the Oxfordshire to Cambridgeshire growth corridor.

“We want to ensure that investment is steered along the A420, while also ensuring we improve the direct rail links between Swindon and Oxford as well as setting up the western connection to Heathrow.”

England’s Economic Heartland is a voluntary link up of councils and local enterprise partnerships which represents the key growth corridor from Oxfordshire through Milton Keynes and across to Cambridgeshire.

Chairman of England’s Economic Heartland Coun Martin Tett said: “We’re delighted to welcome Swindon to EEH.

“By joining forces and speaking with one voice, we are providing leadership on the transport, digital and other key infrastructure required to unlock transformational levels of growth.”