Via 51m.co.uk: Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to join forces with the 51m group now brings to 16 the number of local authorities working collaboratively to oppose the Government’s £32 billion high speed rail project, HS2. Martin Tett, leader of Buckinghamshire County Council and chairman of 51m said: “I’m delighted that Oxfordshire […]
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Six days left to respond to the HS2 consultation
THERE are just six days for residents to say ‘no’ to High Speed 2. But an action group have assured Buckinghamshire householders help is at hand to answer the Government’s public consultation. July 29 is the cut off point to respond to the questions. via Just six days to say […]
Read MoreAn extra £6-9bn for HS2?
It emerged today that the cost of a new tube line and so on to cope with passenger dispersal from Euston once HS2 is running north of Birmingham would be £6-9bn. That is not included in the business plan or the cost benefit analysis. I’m glad I asked the question. […]
Read MoreMatthew Sinclair: Why are the Government taxing ordinary motorists to pay for a rich man’s high-speed train?
Via ConservativeHome’s Platform: Matthew Sinclair: Why are the Government taxing ordinary motorists to pay for a rich man’s high-speed train? This isn’t about North vs. South. The priority should be improving links into cities in the North and South, and between Northern cities. We should be trying to deliver affordable […]
Read MoreBucks HS2 Summit
I’ll be off to the Bucks HS2 summit in Aylesbury in a moment. As a member of the Transport Committee, I am delighted that we are to conduct an inquiry into the strategic case for High Speed Rail. The Transport Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into the strategic case […]
Read MoreChina: Off the rails? | The Economist
The Economist reports China: Off the rails? Public support for high-speed trains is muted. The trains may reach 350km per hour but fares are proportionately eye-watering. That is all right for well-heeled travellers, happy to have an alternative to flying. But tens of millions of poor migrants who work far afield […]
Read MoreMatthew Sinclair: Beware of multi-billion pound projects bearing jobs
On HS2 as a job creation scheme: 40,000 jobs from a £17 billion project means that each job is costing well over £400,000. By contrast, in the wider economy the capital stock is about £3.2 trillion and that supports over 30 million jobs; just over £100,000 a job. In other […]
Read MoreHS2 Consultation launched
The consultation on HS2 has been announced today and it is open for your feedback. You can access the consultation website here. The Executive Summary can be found here; for the full document please click here. HS2 is a sore issue in the Chilterns, and rightly so. However, High Speed Rail […]
Read MoreAtlas Shrugged on the big screen
As I have reported before, there’s much in Ayn Rand’s writing that I do not like: As an articulation of what goes wrong when government and other coercive institutions intervene in the economy and in society, it is a masterpiece. As an articulation of the timeless morals which have sustained […]
Read MoreAdjournment debate on HS2 today
THE Government’s High Speed 2 plans were today opposed by Wycombe MP Steve Baker in the Houses of Parliament. Tory MP Mr Baker personally called a 90 minute debate this morning, where Transport Minister Theresa Villiers was summoned. Read the full coverage in the BFP here. a video of the […]
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