High-speed cock-up
Conservative Home, 14 December 2010:
Lord Adonis has admitted the Government will not be ready to present plans for a high-speed line from London to the West Midlands until March, potentially after the date of a 25 March General Election……..
Reacting to Adonis’ admission, Villiers accused Labour of “dragging their feet” on High Speed Rail.
“Only a Conservative Government can guarantee to bring high-speed rail to the north”, she added.
Conservatives have turned down an offer of an advance look at Government proposals for a high-speed railway line between London and Birmingham.
What? They can’t even be bothered to read a document they said was overdue?
The reason for their reticence is that the document is likely to set a fairly precise route through South East England and the southern Midlands, and they are scared ****less that being seen to support anything at all through this green belt area will lose them votes.
They are, instead, quite prepared to hold up the whole process for their electoral ends, despite saying two months ago that Labour are behind schedule, and despite the fact that there will be a full consultation on the plans after the election anyway.
In many ways, their incompetence and dithering on this single policy issue reflects their whole approach, of course. (See Conor Ryan for wider ‘planning confusions’.)
Meanwhile, I’m interested and half-encouraged by this statement from Richard Leese, Chair of High Speed Rail UK (and leader of Manchester City Council):
High-speed rail is something that all parties are signed up to, which is a positive step forward. However, if it is to be effective, then it must be comprehensive….We need to begin to re-balance economic development across the UK, taking pressure off London and supporting the economic development of cities throughout the country (my emphasis).
Although it doesn’t go far enough yet in recognising the possible downsides of high-speed rail for area ‘off-line’ and the need to ensure that these areas are catered for, it is a step in the right direction and it’s perfectly clear Richard has been reading my and Tom Harris’s blog exchange.
Which is nice.
I’ll be writing to Richard, Labour group leader to Labour group leader (yeah, really!), about this with a view to co-ordinating his campaign for high-speed rail between cities and mine (and my Labour group’s) call for improved local connections and infrastructure.
Maybe Tom can join us at a meeting.
Recent Comments