Petition to bring high speed rail to North West

The North West's biggest ever transport petition will be brought to Rochdale within the next few weeks.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker are to launch their petition calling for High Speed Rail links to the North West tomorrow (Thursday 2 October).

The Lib Dems want the Government to make a firm commitment to high speed rail links to the North West, before any Cabinet decisions are made to support airport expansion in the South East - either at Heathrow or with a new airport at London Mayor Boris Johnson's proposed Thames Gateway site.

The petition will ask the people of Rochdale to back the high speed rail plans and to ditch ideas for airport expansion in the South East.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen is backing his party's petition. He said: "I hope that the Government listen to us instead of throwing their money away at airport expansions down south. It is absolutely vital to provide a real alternative to car and plane travel. We will be taking this petition to the people of Rochdale over the next few weeks."

The petition tops the agenda for the Lib Dem's leadership summit in Warrington tomorrow, the first to be held in the North West.

Paul Rowen continued: "The Summit is a key opportunity to talk about local issues with our Leader. We will be discussing how our proposed 4p income tax cut will benefit the people of Rochdale."