High speed rail runs out of direction

From: PF Jackson, Station Road, Settle.

Your hyperbole over the proposed high speed train may have been well intentioned but it was misguided (Yorkshire Post, November 18). Knocking 45 minutes of the journey between here and London for the few who will be able to afford it will not bring new prosperity to Yorkshire or heal over the North-South divide as you claim.

Development of this enormous white elephant will churn up thousands of acres of the British countryside (what would the newspaper’s stance be if it was the Yorkshire Dales being destroyed?) place a massive burden on taxpayers and bring relatively little permanent employment to the county.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Even the Institute of Directors when asked about their views on where rail investment should be targeted, 79 per cent thought it should be aimed at existing intercity services. In the survey released last Friday nearly as many of their members were in favour of spending on commuter rail. New high speed rail came bottom of the list, after tube, metro and tram.

And last week, the Transport Select Committee report into high speed rail showed that they had significant questions about the HS2 proposal. With so many organisations doubtful about HS2, and swingeing cutbacks being made everywhere, surely now is the time for Justine Greening, the Secretary of Statfor Transport, to cancel the project?

The missing playwright

From: Phil Penfold, Lawn Road, Doncaster.

Readers travelling on Hull Trains in the next few weeks may find, as I did, a glossy booklet in front of them, called Looking Forward.

It highlights the delights and entertainment potential of every stop on the rail company route. It was surprising to find a two-page spread on Hull Truck Theatre, lavishly illustrated, with not a single mention of John Godber, who was the inspirational innovative and creative force behind that company for more years than I care to remember.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There isn’t a word about the dozens of original plays he wrote or adapted, and not a line about how under his charge Hull Truck took flight and became one of the leading theatre companies of Britain.

After a rather acrimonious coup d’état, Mr Godber was ousted from Hull, and is now in charge at the Wakefield Theatre Royal (lucky Wakefield!) but does this move warrant his being air-brushed from Hull Truck’s history?

It seems so. I am reminded of those infamous photographs of the Stalinist era where those who had offended Uncle Joe were “removed” from state photographs, making it look as if they had never existed.

Or is there a more innocent explanation? Perhaps someone at Hull Truck, which has (oddly enough) had a truly dismal time in box office terms since Godber’s departure, would care to explain?

Welfare fuels alcohol trade

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Once again, the Church hierarchy are trying to interfere with the policies of the Government, this time with the cap on benefits not being allowed to exceed £500 per week, which, if not successful is going bleed us dry and produce a nation of scroungers.

The bishops are saying that such a benefit is not sufficient and would cause hardship. I say, that if a family can’t live on £500 per week the specific benefit is not being used as is intended. There will be thousands of people living on less than that, After all it is not a wage or a salary, it is a welfare benefit, and must be used accordingly.

There are sections of the community abusing the system and claiming money dishonestly.

We know all this because of what we read in the press and the BBC have just recently done a Panorama programme on the subject. I am convinced that in some quarters the welfare system is keeping the alcohol and tobacco trades in business and probably the odd travel agency as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The whole set-up is unfair on those in genuine need and also unfair to the honest man with a conscience who will move heaven and earth to find work to enable him to feed his family. Too many people think the world owes them a living.

That is not so! Most people are conscientious, lead an honest life and can hold their heads up high.

I want to see the bishops dwelling on the spiritual well-being of the nation and let the Government get on with governing which it was elected to do.

They should be trying to instil into their congregations that dishonesty and greed are wrong and un-Christian and that clean living, respect for ones fellow man and fair play are the way forward.

After all, there are plenty of parables in the gospels from which to draw inspiration.