Time to scrap costly HS2 white elephant

THE Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Mrs Kay Cutts, said “Over my dead body” (“Is it the end of the line for HS2?”, Post, November 14) responding to rumours of Toton Station being scrapped from the HS2 line! However, there are concepts of HS2 which lack feasibility! How can a train, rip-snorting through the countryside at 200mph, generate jobs for people living along the tracks?

Throughout the 19th century, nationally, the railways created over two million occupations. Railways then linked cities, towns, and villages via commercial trading. Passenger traffic started as an afterthought! Then, railways only had the canals and poor unmetalled roads to compete against.

However, HS2 or its equivalent should have happened in the 1980s. It’s now passed its sell-by date! What use is a rail network that doesn’t carry freight at a time when it’s green to get lorries off the roads?

Surely, Mrs Cutts should think before expecting the Government to commit funding? Due to coronavirus, this Conservative administration is already under severe fiscal constraints. Just as Mr Johnson is being criticised for the advice he accepted to handle the virus, and the massive borrowing programme his governance is committed to.

Conservatives have reiterated at every election: “Labour can’t be trusted with the economy as their borrowing goes out of control”. While this heavy borrowing cycle isn’t of the Government’s making, it’s the virus that’s thrown their fiscal policy asunder!

On the current form the Government resembles a busted flush, as taxes will soar to pay for the virus strategy, plus HS2 will cost circa £150 billion – presented by the party that promotes itself as the sentinel of the nation’s finances, running a low taxation economy.

The next election is four years away, and it’s unlikely the electorate will share the party’s view of itsself.

Hence, Mrs Cutts must clarify if her dead body is going to be martyr to the HS2 white elephant, or is Kay willing to scarify herself to save the Conservatives from extinction by helping it remain a low tax and spend party,

Scrapping HS2 will reduce the overspend some £150 billions. To say it’ll create jobs – how much will each job cost?

Nigel J Starbuck Bingham member states are to realise how important good trading relationships and friendships are to the free world.

Councillor John M Parr Plains Ward Gedling Borough Council