THE leader and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on Warrington Borough Council have added their support to the Government’s decision to go ahead with the high speed rail between London and Birmingham.
In a joint statement, councillors Ian Marks and Bob Barr (pictured) said: “This is the right decision and we are pleased the Government has taken it despite all the opposition.
“It would be very beneficial to the North West and a large infrastructure project like this will create thousands of jobs.
“It will free up capacity on existing rail lines and be good for carbon reduction by taking people off planes and out of cars and by taking freight off the motorways.”
The two councillors added a cautionary note, however.
They said: “We wish the Government had been bolder and given more commitment now to extending the line to the North West rather than just constructing it to Birmingham.
“Also 20 years before the line would be open to the North West is far too long. We want the benefits much earlier than that.
“Our task now is to continue to lobby for high speed rail and make sure that Warrington benefits directly from any route and we don’t lose out to Manchester.”
The Government’s decision has already been welcomed by Warrington South Conservative MP David Mowat.
More support for high speed rail
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
You can be sure it will be over budget, behind schedule, and will not deliver the high speed capacity some years after construction due to Technical difficulties!!!
I would have thought we should improve and update our existing failing, delapidated and poorly run network of Railways before trying to build a railway for our cousins in the deep south.
I havent seen a good argument for this particular disaster other than the magic words “create jobs”….. and the fanciful notion that it will take people out of cars is complete fantasy, the rising price of fuel goes hand in hand with the price of a rail ticket and at least driving your car your guaranteed a seat for you journey.!!!
We should have the greatest Railway network in the world sadly we have a sick joke , and now they want to make a comedy side show with the High speed rail line.
Rather than a high speed link to get people slightly faster to a limited number of destinations we should be looking at ways to get more freight on to the railways – and in some cases, in particular non-persishable goods, on to canals and rivers.
“Our task now is to continue to lobby for high speed rail and make sure that Warrington benefits directly from any route and we don’t lose out to Manchester.” Sorry councillors your immediate and overriding task should be directed nearer home. After years of allowing things at WBC to run themselves, unsupervised, with a lassez faire policy towards what officers got up to, you should be devoting all your efforts to making sure WBC is being run properly, instead of involving yourselves in a topical soundbite on a matter that will have a minimal but long term impact on Warrington. Only when things are properly organized will you or your successors be in a position to start worrying about loosing out to Manchester.