The French connection

A YOUNG friend asked me the other day why it was that the Tour de France, which is, after all, essentially a race around our nearest continental neighbour, should be starting from Yorkshire. Which is not, so far as is known, in France.

For a moment I was a bit stuck for an answer, having thought much the same myself at one time.

Then it came to me in a flash. In 1066, due to a small tactical error on the battlefield of Hastings, we became a vassal state of Normandy.

We are therefore perfectly entitled to host Le Cycle Race 
in the same way as any other French province.

Je restez ma valise.

Compare cost 
of Crossrail

From: John Turley, Dronfield.

THERE have been numerous articles and letters over the last few months suggesting that HS2 at a cost of £40bn, or even £50bn, is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.

However the cost of London’s Crossrail system at around £20bn is almost half as much, and yet there has been very little questioning as to whether this project represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Could it be because Crossrail benefits mainly those in the South East, whereas HS2 
will benefit those living in the North more, and most of the opposition to HS2 has come 
from the Nimbys living in the South East?