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Railway plans are ‘absurd’
PROTESTERS of the proposed high speed railway line that is threatening to tear up parts of the Daventry area have criticised the new Government for backing the project.
Plans for the HS2 track, which would cut through Chipping Warden, Aston le Walls and the Boddingtons, were drawn up by the previous Labour Government in March.
But at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the new coalition Government will carry on supporting plans for the £33 billion line from London to Birmingham.
He also announced that ministers’ preferred option for the link north of Birmingham would be for two separate corridors, one to Manchester and one to the east coast main line north of Leeds.
Mr Hammond said at the conference in Birmingham’s ICC: “By creating a smaller Britain, where literally journey times from Leeds to London will be about 80 minutes, we change the geography, we change the way people think and we change the opportunities that are available. This great connectivity is fantastic news for the North East and other regions and will transform the economy, I have no doubt about that at all.”
But despite his comments, a protest was held outside the conference by campaigners who want to protect the countryside in the Daventry area.
The protesters also believe the money would be better spent elsewhere at a time when the Government is threatening public service cuts.
Among them was South Northants Action Group (Snag) member Lizzie Williams, who has recently walked the entire length of the proposed 200-mile link to gather support.
She was joined at various stages by fellow campaigners who also want to see the plans scrapped.
Mrs Williams said: “No-one could accuse any of the marchers of being nimbys, they were there to protest against the massive cuts we are facing now.
“We are facing cuts to education, health, defence, police and fire services. I could go on as we are facing cuts to everything but the Government still thinks it is reasonable to spend what has now gone up to £33 billion on one train line with a dodgy business case. It is ridiculous.
“Encouraging long distance commuter travelling is environmentally irresponsible and financially absurd.”
Fellow Snag member Jo Wilson, who lives in Aston le Walls, added: “It’s heartbreaking when you see what could be destroyed here, it really is criminal.
“Unfortunately it seems all the political parties are pro HS2 but we can’t see the benefits.
“I think we should focus on improving the existing rail network, not just build a new line from Birmingham to London.”
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Weather for Daventry
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
