Thursdays Letters: West Coast choice is the wrong route for high-speed rail

Why would Leeds prefer to receive high-speed rail services via Birmingham and Manchester? Why not opt to fight for the most direct route – quite separate from the prescribed Adonis West Coast route, and which runs from London along the M1-A1 corridor?

Take a map of England and draw a straight line between London and Edinburgh, and it is obvious the route passes through Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle, ie, the shortest route equals the fastest passenger travel route. Thus, Yorkshire may have achieved potential extension of a possible high-speed spur beyond Manchester, but Leeds would only be connected operationally by 2025 (10 years later than Manchester).

Present HS2 route planning remains stuck on connectivity with Heathrow: "Interchange stations would also be introduced in London to connect with the Crossrail link to Heathrow – and in Birmingham for Birmingham Airport and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC)."

The project would involve a revamp of Euston station and "a brand new station in Birmingham city centre" providing 30-minute travel time between the two.

Trust me, this announcement only supports the original Network Rail objective of providing expansion of the West Coast Line by adding track capacity between London and Manchester, predicted to run out by 2020 – whereas your article (Yorkshire Post, March 11) warns "construction on the first stage of the line is unlikely to start until 2017".

My criticism of the imposed narrow West Coast route choice announced by Andrew Adonis is that it is inadequate for future 21st century needs; HS2 must comprehensively benefit all key regions and communities north of London and the South than the prescribed Birmingham-Manchester route.

As a Yorkshireman living in the East Midlands, I previously experienced redundancy from the decline and collapse of textile apparel

manufacturing in the UK (Listers of Bradford, Glenoit UK in Woodlesford and JH Walker of Dewsbury) and ultimately formed my own successful company.

Thus, Yorkshire needs verticalisation of high-speed routing rather than a slower cross-Pennine diversion – while Eurostar services linked to regional airports throughout the Midland Mainline M1-A1 Corridor and direct high-speed rail travel to Europe (not via Manchester and Birmingham) will boost two-way tourism – upgrading and expanding the Leeds Bradford International Airport will boost business for inward investment, as well as supporting the many fine universities located along the route.

From: Peter Lacy, Abbey Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham.

From: BH Hardwick, High Ridge Park, Rothwell, Leeds.

HS2? Forget it, it will cost billions, billions which we cannot afford. It is a typical political ploy to take your mind off more pressing matters.

It is not speed we need but extra capacity for more trains.

We need four tracking from King's Cross to Leeds, and on to Newcastle and Edinburgh. This would double the number of paths available.

We had four tracks in pre-war days but they were taken out to save money on track maintenance.

It would be expensive but the formation is there. It would not be as expensive as building a brand new railway through virgin countryside with its public inquiries.

Who wants to go to Leeds-London in one hour 20 minutes anyway?

Hospital plan abandons medical needs

From: Keith Moore, Box Hill, Scarborough.

THE plans announced by the most recent bean counter to be employed to run Scarborough Hospital Trust represent an abandonment of the medical needs of the population of the area in pursuit of some financial goal.

It seems incredible that he recommends merely that "hospital-type" services be retained at Scarborough and Bridlington and expects the customers – that's us – to roll over and accept it. The plans for heart attack and serious injury cases to bypass Scarborough in favour of specialist units beggar belief.

I don't suppose he has had to endure the minimum 40-mile journey in the pain and discomfort of a life-threatening situation in the back of an ambulance over roads congested with traffic or faced the added pressure placed upon families travelling to Hull, York or Middlesbrough to visit and support their poorly relatives.

We have had fairly recent experience of treatment in both York and Hull Hospitals and found them to be stretched to, and in some cases beyond, the limit now, particularly at nursing care level, and in no fit state to take on the many additional patients these proposals would place upon them without significant increases in their nursing and bed capacity.

I do hope that the proposals are sabre rattling designed to shake more money from his governing masters for proper medical care at least to the existing coronary care standard, otherwise he is at risk of

imposing a death sentence on some of the 200,000 local residents, a number which can triple at peak holiday times.

Surprising views

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield.

JAYNE Dowle's article (Yorkshire Post, March 18) was as surprising as it was disappointing. Her intense dislike of Samantha Cameron seems to be based purely on the fact that she is the daughter of a baronet and Jayne suspects that she is trying desperately to hide that fact. Hence, she dresses down by buying from chain stores and she uses expressions, such as "y'know" and "sorta," which are supposed to be indicative of her efforts to appear like the masses.

Jayne believes that Samantha will find few friends in South Yorkshire, as the people there will see straight through her faade to the crime of her privileged background. Perhaps Jayne underestimates the discernment and common sense of Yorkshire folk.

Browsing on the internet, it was interesting to see that Samantha is sometimes regarded as a UK fashion icon, the terms "high street chic" and "simple sophistication" having been applied to her understated style.

When Jayne writes about Cherie Blair she said: "Let's be kind."

Couldn't she extend a little of that bon homie to Samantha and relinquish her desire to throw something at her?

Coursing toll on hares

From Robert Farmer, Brancroft Farm, Austerfield

IN reply to your article about the brown hare (Yorkshire Post, March 15), it is politically correct in a lot of circles to blame modern agriculture for the demise of certain species of wildlife.

Your article states that, because of modern farming practices, the hares have little food in the winter. This is, in fact, the opposite, there is an awful lot of barley, wheat and oilseed rape grown in the winter. These provide valuable nutrient source of food for the hare.

Hares like large open fields not small meadows of long grass as you suggest.

Hares are becoming extinct in areas and there is only one reason for this... illegal hare coursing, which is rampant all over the country. When the hunting ban came into force, the hares lost the only friends they had.

Use of Tai Chi improves mental and physical health

From: Wei-Ling Chang, Matthew Gap, Thurlstone, Penistone.

THE Tai Chi classes organised by Sheffield Council for pensioners have all the hallmarks of good community living.

They are organised by a proactive local government, they provide regular social interaction for the elderly which promotes their good health, and they mirror our multicultural society by adopting from the Chinese an ancient and proven form of exercise that improves physical and mental health.

It is most unfortunate that this happy state of affairs has been

disrupted by the worst enemies of a community – bigotry and ignorance.

In this case, bigotry founded upon ignorance. That it is the Christian church (which professes tolerance, understanding and fellowship) that is culpable makes it all the more astonishingly unfortunate.

In reporting that the All Saints Church in Totley (Yorkshire Post, March 19) has refused the Tai Chi group the use of its church hall, you quote the the Vicar as saying: "Our understanding is that the basis of Tai Chi is in Eastern religion..."

If he and his church officials had not based their decision on some "understanding" but had taken the trouble to find out a little more about Tai Chi and its origin, they would not have caused so much upset.

Although Tai Chi is commonly regarded as a martial art, together with many other ancient Chinese martial art forms, it stands out in its slow pace and yielding form and its peaceful meditational qualities.

Traditionally, the masters and teachers of the various forms of Chinese martial arts were monks. The best known were the monks of the Shaolin temple for their form of the art.

This might have led to the misconception that the martial arts are associated with religious practices. In the later centuries in China, secret societies arose in defence of the poor and oppressed and used the martial arts. All the disciples had to swear that they would not misuse their skills in acts of villainy. This is not to say that some secret societies did not later degenerate into Triads and gangs.

Given the philosophical basis, history and practice of the Chinese martial arts, especially the gentle, health-promoting Tai Chi, I fail to see how it could be at odds with the Christian religion.

In fact, I would argue that it has elements of a "spirituality involving Jesus" (to quote the good Vicar again).

Superstore concerns

From: BJ Cussons, Ilkley.

concerned by a planning application to build a superstore in our small town, I would very much like to hear from any readers who feel their town has been spoilt by a similar intrusion.

Almost daily we are receiving evidence that the excesses of the past

are in many cases detrimental.

Big is not beautiful and for the sake of minuscule savings here and there, and stock contracting to own-brand products in many cases, the destruction of the ambience of a town, excessive pressures on traffic which is already more than the geographical layout can bear, cannot and should not be allowed to take place.

So many of our leaders have disgraced themselves that the public no longer has confidence in the impartiality of planning systems; money seems to alter everything and Local Plans get changed in response to power.

Stunning valley must be saved

From: Darcy Brabin, Earlswood Chase, Pudsey.

I AM very upset to hear that Bradford Council might build in Tong and Fulneck valley. I have been riding on the bridle paths there for over three years and I would be sad to see them go.

The view of the valley is stunning and I don't want it to be ruined by houses.

It also makes me sad because Black Carr woods is an ancient woodland and cannot be replaced. Flowers such as primroses, bluebells and snowdrops will be coming soon and it will be sad not to see them

anymore.

Surely something can be done?