Chester Chronicle letters

Oct 29 2004

IN COMMON with many people, I rarely bother to read beyond the first few words of Mr Moore Dutton's regular ramblings to your newspaper.

However, I have just accidentally read the last paragraph in his latest letter 'Transport folly' (October 1) in which he announces that 'transport policy is controlled by Labour in Chester.'

No, Mr Moore Dutton, Labour does not control transport policy in Chester - and nor does anyone else on Chester City Council.

If you talk to your wife, you will discover that - albeit most regrettably in my view - it is she and her Conservative colleagues on the county council's cabinet who control transport in Chester!

The Lib Dem-led city council administration continues to do its utmost to improve the situation in Chester. Mr Moore Dutton should know that the planned regeneration programme for Chester station is the result of a Chester City Council initiative, now fully supported by Cheshire County Council.

Perhaps in future Mr Moore Dutton will try to avoid blatant untruths in his interminable correspondence.
PAUL ROBERTS Deputy leader, Liberal Democrat Group, Chester City Council

CHRISTINE Russell states that hunting is 'not a key concern' for countryside people.

So why is she persistently voting for a ban on hunting?

I'll tell you what really concerns country people - that MPs such as Christine Russell are receiving £175,000-plus of taxpayers' money every year to vote quite blindly on issues like hunting.

These MPs don't understand anything about hunting and are not prepared to make any attempt to find out about it either.

Yet they then willfully vote to deny rights to country people to carry out a countryside activity which has been going on for centuries and has successfully kept the fox population balanced.

These misguided MPs are blissfully ignorant of the consequences of their actions on foxes and, if they knew anything at all they should be fighting to retain hunting - not banning it to open up the way for the ravages that totally uncontrolled shooting, maiming, snaring, poisoning and lamping at night with guns will bring to foxes and countryside wildlife as a whole.
JOANNA DAKIN The Holt, Dimelow Court, Malpas

I WAS shocked to hear that the First Response ambulance which services the SW Cheshire area is not going to be based at Tattenhall any more and may be moved to Waverton.

It is unlikely that it would be able to reach parts of Malpas within 20 minutes, and for most parts of SW Cheshire it will mean that there will be a longer wait for it, and for only a very few will there be a shorter waiting time. I would urge organisers to think again.

I also gather that more volunteers are needed to run the First Response team. Anyone who is able to help can e-mail Grahame Andrews at gandrews@newcentral.co.uk or call 01829 720580.
CHARLES HIGGIE 10 Oathills, Malpas

YOUR paper has given an informative update on local rail matters in its article entitled 'Bid to maintain railway link' (October 8).

Such articles reflect the strength of local opinion in favour of developing rail links in the Mersey Basin, North Wales coast, NE Wales and beyond.

North Cheshire Rail Users' Group (NCRUG) has lobbied long and hard to have the Halton Curve reinstated to allow passenger and freight services to run over it and thereby provide the transport choices which are not currently available. Such services are vitally important in sustaining the renaissance in economic growth and pollution reduction in the region.

We were, however, dismayed to read the rather dismissive remarks made by Jim Steer, managing director of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), and found them entirely inappropriate in the context of rail matters in this area.

All stakeholders involved in the case for reinstatement of the Halton Curve are fully aware, and have always emphasised, that reinstatement must be based on a sound business case and not the whimsical notions of any body, whether they be 'train-spotters and enthusiasts' or any other label Mr Speer cares to give them.

Having said that, train-spotters and enthusiasts do, of course, form part of the paying travelling public who contribute to the coffers of the TOCs and their views should not always be treated as being unrealistic. They are often very knowledgeable and committed and certainly more aware of local public transport needs and shortcomings than more remote organisations who may be compelled to play to another agenda.

We also take issue with Mr Steer when he states: 'The Halton Curve is simply not a financially feasible venture when given the predicted market for the service.'

The £16m investment by Merseytravel in the construction of Liverpool South Parkway has been made specifically to service a whole new market for public transport in the Mersey Basin and the region as a whole.

Liverpool South Parkway will be a major transport interchange and also serve as the Liverpool John Lennon Airport station. Coupled with the opening of the Halton Curve the Mersey Basin, North Wales and the Marches come within easy reach of the airport, Merseyside and the North West region.

It must be emphasised that the airport is an ever-expanding gateway for both inward and outward travellers. For example, airport statistics for 2002 show that in excess of 70,000 passengers (excluding significant staff numbers who would use a rail service twice daily) travelled to the airport from the south Mersey Basin area per annum.

In addition, the demand from North Wales, which is not included in the above figure, is, we understand, substantial.

Furthermore, expansion at the airport over the last two years will have considerably increased this number.

We have no doubt the even more favourable current statistics, which NCRUG does not possess, will be presented to the SRA by Merseytravel as part of its business plan.

It should also be stressed that all local authorities in the region are strongly in favour of reinstating the Halton Curve as the missing link in the local rail network.

It is make-or-break time as the West Coast Main Line upgrade between Weaver Junction and Ditton is due to start in December and this takes in the northern end of the Curve.

We sincerely hope your paper will be able to report favourably on this important issue.
CEDRIC GREEN Secretary, North Cheshire Rail Users' Group