27 Jan 2022
This week sees the submission to Parliament of the HS2 Hybrid Bill for Phase 2b Western Leg.
The Covid Pandemic has accelerated change in our working lives – change that developments in technology would have in time created in any case perhaps. No more the mass commute for a 9am start, or business meetings dictating mass movements of thousands of representatives on a daily basis. Just like in the 1950’s and 60’s when it was normal to see thousands of workers locally arriving at the factory gates and mills, or at the pit head for a change of shift.
Those days have gone.
Today and for the future, we need a shift in more technology, better broadband. Of course we will also need transport solutions, geared for our changing world – solutions that help reduce personal car use, where possible, that protect our environment, and habitat for threatened wildlife and biodiversity.
It is my belief that HS2 falls far short of what is really needed, and will do far more harm than good. Had it been better connected to the rest of the rail network, and not so high speed to compromising nature, energy usage, and had it made use of existing travel corridors, I might have seen the benefit of it.
Instead we have being presented a vanity project at a cost to society which is not acceptable.
Nigel Hennerley
Cheshire East Green Party
High Legh
