Returning to issues of white elephant

Never in my long lifetime have I experienced such illogical argument over a fatuous project. I admire the local ably-led protest group and strongly urge our local MP to join in the opposition with full fervour before we have yet another “white elephant” in our zoo. Anyone with his eyes half open would realise that the “Nos have it” Let us look again at the contrary arguments: Let me consider the proposers’ arguments and seek to refute them in turn.

1. The creation of HS2 will shorten the journey from London to Birmingham by about 20 minutes. Oh! Who is so desperate that he cannot use that time wisely with his laptop or newspaper or even peaceful conversation and not emerge from a train miles from Birmingham centre and approaching a great line of feeder coaches dedicated to finishing the trip in front of another similar line awaiting the next two trains (60 coaches in all). You the traveller are already wondering whether this was worth £200 or so (in today’s money). You think “I suppose I ordered that sandwich a bit too late? Anyway when I get to Birmingham station I shall have to find a train to Manchester which they told me I could have got from Euston. Time lost. More expense. What happened to that fellow who was moaning that his appointment is in Coventry and he could have got there direct much quicker and a fraction of the fare from Euston. As for that Japanese gentleman over there, he said he could not understand why there are planes flying towards him and this cannot be busy enough to be the centre of Birmingham. What is that great line of trains over there they must stretch back miles. Oh, of course, one every four minutes. How can they all board in time?

What a waste of money) as much of the journey passed through tunnels

2. I have a relative in Coventry. He said when he was young most of the great industrial firms had factories and premises in Coventry. But in recent years they had been allowed to fail or close and the city needs all of the help it can get. What is the good of a train passing within a few miles and not stopping. What about all the other people who are going to have their lives ruined by trains passing noisily every minute or so when they cannot even get on it?. Why should anyone have his home which he loves demolished to save a stranger a few useless minutes.? Who is going to pay compensation for the two fine golf courses in the area and some gems of houses in real terms? Hundreds of houses? I think I will have a sleep on this bench for an hour or so before doing the last bit. Do you think they will move me on? - Ron Newbold, address supplied.