Youth Editor – exercising his right to speak out
By: Barney Rule - 'VM' Youth Editor.
In ten years’ time a ‘high-speed’ train line is to be built from London to Manchester that will skirt Streethay and Fradley.Thousands of people living along the route will be forced from their homes.
Huge areas of beautiful countryside will be destroyed.
But I suppose it is pointless to complain, seeing as it has been agreed by all sides of parliament that this is a positive thing.
Free speech
This means my argument against the project may be futile. Yet I have the right to free speech and so I shall use it!
To begin with, large areas of the landscape around villages such as Curborough will be obliterated. Walks will be lost, views ruined and amenities destroyed.
Also, people will be forced to move away from the communities they belong to.
No benefit
Now, some may say that all this is balanced out by the benefit the rail line will bring to the economy.
But there will be no stops in Staffordshire. No business will be brought to the county.
With a service running every four minutes, there will never be enough customers to fill the train.
Because of this and the harm this scheme will do, I cannot see how it can be a good idea for the country
