Warwickshire sets out transport priorities

This from the Birmingham Post...

Conservative-led Warwickshire County Council is set to take its case against HS2 railway plans to the Government...

The county council says it has been working with other councils opposing HS2 along the route, and action groups and HS2 Ltd to “gather data” about HS2.

Would this be the same Warwickshire County Council that is funding opposition to HS2 and at the same time withdrawing support for local bus services after 7pm.

It surely is!

Warwickshire CC’s portfolio holder for transport and highways, Coun Peter Butlin, said the authority was left with little choice but to axe the services once their grant was cut.

“The only way we could balance our budgetary responsibility and keep providing services was to target the areas where there are fewer customers,” he added.

“It’s unpalatable, but it’s a fact of life".

Indeed it is - unpalatable that is.

HS2 statement on Monday and Speaker Bercow

This interesting constitutional conundrum from Paul Waugh writing on Politics Home...

Now, the real problem with all of this is that some in Government are wondering whether it would be entirely appropriate for the Speaker to chair the Oral Statement on Monday. Given his vociferous opposition and clear interest, should he pass proceedings over to one of his deputies?

This won't be the first time that Hammond and the 'sanctimonious dwarf' have locked horns as can be seen from this video of Petrol-head's summer visit to Buckingham (long but worth the watch).



Monday will be an interesting test of Bercow's much questioned impartiality.

Will he allow a deputy to take the chair?

HS2 to finish Luftwaffe's work?

Exciting HS2 news!

This from Coventry City Council...

Coventry City Council has passed a resolution officially opposing the proposed north-south High Speed Rail link.

The Council backed the resolution on economic grounds saying the rail line would "devastate" the city centre.

How will anyone notice the difference?

A divergence of views on HS2

So.

Petrol-head has decided on a 'Y' route for HS2.

By creating a junction just north of Birmingham both Lancashire and Yorkshire will now be served

Sadly not everyone at yesterday's conference welcomed the announcement.


But a more charming set of protesters you could not have wished to meet.

HS2 - Nimbyism alive and well in the 'nasty' party!

This from Channel 4 News...

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond faces protesters who are campaigning against the new London to Birmingham high speed rail line route.

Channel 4 News Political Correspondent Cathy Newman has learnt that at least two ministers may resign if the route is not changed.

Welcome to the New Politics or, in old money, Nimbyism.

Forget the LibDems tearing the coalition government apart - clearly the Tories are more than competent enough to do this on their own.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, probably best to wait till the 20th October when the whole HS2 thing will be declared unaffordable.

So all in all a non-story.

A french perspective on the HS2 route

This just in from Claude Bottom...

You Roast Beef are zo funny.

In your Chilterns you have Messieurs Les Nimby complaining about the route of your LGV Deux.

Incrediblue!

En la Grand France we welcome such things.

And if our government fails to provide a gare to compensate for ze blight then it is guerre!

So Monsieur Bufton Le Tufton pull up les socks, embrace le change and campaign for Shooter Hauptbahnhof! (is this right? Ed)

UPDATE: This from our man in a railway carriage near Compiegne...

Lieber Fakt Kompiler.

I zink zat my meine freunde Klaus von Bottom from Alsace Lorraine let his cover as a cheminot slip when he referred to Herr Schuter's railway.

Official - Great Western is... a railway

***Good news for those who want to see the wires go up."