Name calling is unjust and offensive

Let’s be clear, everyone has a right to object and protest when their way of life and the peace which they sought and currently enjoy is threatened with disruption. The law and the Human Rights Act allow as much. Thus, the intent behind being gratuitously labelled a NIMBY is unjust and offensive.

Let us not forget when these names are being bandied about, it is not just people’s living environment that is affected by the High Speed Rail proposals. It is also jobs and livelihoods right here in our locality that are threatened as the proposed route cuts through the sites of a number of businesses and farms currently employing many scores of local people. If such acronyms are still to be used, then, everyone, without exception, will become a NIMBY if a major project is likely to built on their doorstep, as did an acquaintance of ours when a factory wanting to operate 24/7 was to be built on the other side of her garden fence.

Even our Transport Secretary, Mr Hammond, is just such a NIMBY when it suits him. According to reports he has helped scupper a new rail service from towns in the south and south east into Heathrow airport. He apparently protested that the additional “Airtrack” trains that would transit the level-crossing in Egham, in his parliamentary constituency, would inconvenience his motoring constituents.

Perhaps, also, after your contributor that bemoaned the contract for Crossrail rolling stock going to a foreign firm, we should remember that all of HS2’s rolling stock will come from foreign firms and that it is more than likely that the main parts of the contracts to build the line will be given to foreign companies experienced in building high speed rail systems. - Malcolm Hayes, Bridge End, Southam.