Isle of Wight also demands compensation for HS2

The Plaid Cymru election manifesto argues that Wales should get £4bn compensation for HS2. This is despite the fact that no houses in Wales have been knocked down, no tunnels built, and no sheep disturbed. But Plaid Cymru clearly feel that they have a case.

This has emboldened the Isle of Wight Independence Party to argue along similar lines and make rail improvements part of its platform.

Colin Card, 63, says that there is an ‘obvious’ case for investment in the railway line that runs between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin. Colin says that a feasibility study, conducted by Norman from the model railway club, shows that the current 28 minute journey time could easily be cut to 23 minutes. The economic benefits are therefore huge, because a massive amount of productive time will be released. 'HS2 only cut 10 minutes off the journey from London to Birmingham,' says Colin, 'so our plans knock that into a cocked hat.'

Colin also says that there is also a good economic case for integrating services between Smallbrook Junction and Wootton, currently served by a heritage railway. And there is also a strong case (Norman again) for extending the existing railway from Shanklin to Ventnor, as travellers to Ventnor must currently complete their journey from Shanklin station by bus. In their wilder moments, Colin and Norman dream of a circular railway line running round the whole island. And some trains, obviously.

The islanders will be tracking the Plaid Cymru case very closely. If Wales is successful, then there should be no barrier to funding for the Isle of Wight. £4bn would be just the ticket.

Image: Bucarama-TLM - Pixabay

Niggley Farrago uses a more appropriate form of transport

Villagers hopeful about new bus shelter

Residents of North Netherwick, a tiny Somerset village, are hopeful about getting a new bus shelter, after waiting for more than 14 years.

‘We first asked for a bus shelter in 2010,’ says Joan, a member of the bus shelter action group.

‘We’ve been given the run-around since then.  First it was all about austerity and affordability.   Then we were fobbed of with promises of feasibility studies, evaluations, and consultations.   Then they wanted the villagers to pay half the bill.  And while all this nonsense has been going on, we just get wetter and wetter while we wait for the bus.  I suppose we are lucky that there’s still a bus.

‘But we are now very hopeful about getting some action.  It was the boundary changes that clinched it for us.  North Netherwick is part of a new parliamentary constituency and it’s considered to be a very marginal seat.   So, all of a sudden, the Tories are very keen to promise a new bus shelter.   And, to top it off, they’ve promised us a matching litter bin.  How exciting is that?

‘Anyway, we aren’t taking anything for granted.  Our campaign team are printing posters that say BUS SHELTER FIRST – THEN THE VOTES.   We’ve warned the local candidate that we like to fill in our postal votes early.  So if they understand how election bribes work, then they need to magic up that bus shelter pronto.  No shelter, no votes.   And they’d better not cancel the bus, either.

‘We are a bit worried that they will cock it all up, the useless tossers,’ says Joan. ‘Anyway, fingers crossed.’

image from pixabay