YP Letters: The real villain of the Beeching cuts that wrecked rail
JAYNE Dowle wonders how Dr Richard Beeching might react to today’s UK public transport shambles (The Yorkshire Post, February 8). Knowing nothing but numbers, perhaps he would insist that, at the time, he was right.
In fairness to Beeching, we should remember that the last word on closures rested with the Minister of Transport, one Ernest Marples of Marples Ridgway, Civil Engineers and motorway builders. Lest there be any suggestion of conflict of interest, he transferred his shareholdings into his wife’s name – so that’s all right! He also permitted track beds to be sold off and redeveloped, making re-opening of lines very costly, if not impossible.
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Hide AdPerhaps it’s also worth remembering that we did not have a Freedom of Information Act available in those days!
From: Terry Morrell, Prunus Avenue, Willerby.
JAYNE Dowle, like most people, has got it wrong. Beeching was only the fall guy for a political con, for which he was well paid!
Ernest Marples was the real culprit. He had much to gain with his personal involvement with the road transport industry and the future development of the highway infrastructure.
Just like the current debate on Brexit, the withholding of certain facts and information, manipulation of statistics, lies and damned lies repeated by official sources are churned out to influence the voter into submission.
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Hide AdIt is criminal that the Government machine uses taxpayers’ money to deliberately mislead for the personal gain and vanity of individuals.
David Cameron, like many of those before him in senior and responsible leadership positions, treats voters with contempt.
My advice is take what is said by officialdom with a pinch of salt and do not be hoodwinked!
From: Andrew Mercer, Guiseley.
I WOULD use the buses more frequently if the electronic update screens at bus stops were remotely accurate.
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Hide AdAt St James’s Hospital, for example, there is no correlation between the details on the screens – and when buses arrive.
It would also be better if there were conductors on busy routes so drivers don’t have to waste their time, and that of passengers, trying to find change for those trying to pay a £1 fare with a £20 note.
Do others agree?