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Council chief backs campaign for high-speed London link
SHEFFIELD'S council chief has given his backing to the Yorkshire Post's Fast Track to Yorkshire campaign, which is calling for a high-speed rail line linking the region to London.
Paul Scriven, who is also the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the city's central constituency, called on the Government to do more to improve services.
The Yorkshire Post is running the Fast Track to Yorkshire campaign with the aim of lobbying Ministers for a new 200mph line built directly between the region and the capital.
At the moment, Ministers have said a London to Birmingham route will be built and there are fears that will then be continued up to Manchester – bypassing the eastern side of the Pennines.
Concerns about the region being left behind is so high that the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and West Yorkshire's transport commissioners, Metro, have hired a consultancy firm, Arup, to build a case for a high-speed line.
Coun Scriven said yesterday that he "wholeheartedly welcomed" the campaign, and added: "I hope all of Sheffield can join me in supporting the Fast Track to Yorkshire campaign.
"Sheffield is in the dark ages as far as high-speed rail is concerned. The Government must have the imagination to make high-speed, affordable rail travel our future.
"In an age where China is building railways that can achieve speeds of 268mph, it's a scandal that our region is being left so far behind. We can't afford for more and more people to use air travel as an alternative.
"The cost of these plans pales into insignificance compared to what has been spent on rail projects in London under this Labour Government.
"I urge Ministers to look urgently at this scheme and give Sheffield the sustainable, high-speed travel it needs for future generations."
The campaign has already received the support of the chief executives of several major Yorkshire councils, who attended a workshop in Wakefield in June hosted by staff from the West and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executives.
A total of 30 MPs have now signed a Parliamentary motion backing the campaign. The latest to sign up to the Early Day Motion include the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, Eric Illsley.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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