HS2 cash earmarked for Nottingham tram line open since 2015

The prime minister announced the change of direction during his conference speech

A tram line that opened eight years ago has been included in a list of transport projects due to be funded by the cancellation of HS2's eastern leg.

The government's Network North policy paper states that Nottingham's tram network could be extended to Clifton South.

However a line has served that location since 2015.

Nottinghamshire MP Ben Bradley said he understood the listing related to potentially extending the line.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the East Midlands will receive £9.6bn in transport investment after the prime minister announced the scaling back of the HS2 project during his conference speech on Wednesday.

However mention of the tram network being extended to Clifton South raised eyebrows on social media.

Clifton South was mentioned in the Network North policy paper

Mr Bradley, Conservative MP for Mansfield and also the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, told BBC Radio Nottingham the information - included in a section about the new East Midlands mayor receiving a £1.5bn pot for transport improvements - did not tell the whole story.

He said: "We can go beyond Clifton. What it refers to, in a Westminster not-quite-involved-in-the-detail kind of way, is opportunities around Ratcliffe-on-Soar.

"People will know all about the freeport, all about the major investment opportunity at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, connected with the East Midlands Airport and all of that.

"One of the opportunities with this £1.5bn we've been given is tram extensions - I think there are four proposed tram extensions we've been given around the region, one of which could connect people with jobs in Ratcliffe-on-Soar and onwards to East Midlands Airport, which would solve a big transport challenge.

"We've now got the money for these things - we've never had that before - and our new mayor will have those decisions about which of those they want to deliver."

Nottingham's tram network was extended to Clifton South in 2015

The region's first mayor is due to be elected in 2024, with Mr Bradley confirmed as the Conservative candidate earlier this year.

Labour have selected former MP Claire Ward as their pick and Matthew Relf, an Ashfield District councillor, has also announced he will be standing.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said it was for the East Midlands combined authority to decide how to spend the funds: "The document lists an example of what they could do, such as extending the Nottingham Tram system to Gedling and beyond Clifton South."

Mr Bradley is leader of Nottinghamshire County Council