North West Nimbys must not halt HS2

Euro-MP Chris Davies says North West 'Nimbys' must not be allowed to delay construction of a new high speed rail line.

The Liberal Democrat says the region gave railways to the world but is now at risk of being relegated to second class transport status.

He said: "There is nothing new about people protesting against railway construction.

"Plans for the Liverpool & Manchester line were criticised nearly 200 years ago as 'the most absurd scheme that ever entered into the head of a man'.

"Yet the opening of the line in 1830 inspired railway building across the world.

"The North West is in danger now of being left behind. Europe has built 3,000 miles of high speed rail line but only 70 miles from London to the Channel Tunnel are in Britain.

"We need to become part of the 21st century rail revolution, and the sooner the better."