Labour’s High Speed Rail Route Could Have Serious Impact On North Warwickshire Villages

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Dan Byles, the ex-soldier who is a long term campaigner for the greenbelt, has expressed his deep concern over the proposed route for the new High Speed Rail Line.

Labour's route, published last week, runs very close to a number of local villages such as Coleshill, Gilson, Water Orton, Curdworth and Middleton.

Dan has also criticised the local Labour MP over the route.

Dan said: "Many people living in the villages affected by Labour's High Speed Rail Route are still bitter from when our local Labour MP betrayed them over the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. Now he is doing it again. This is the Labour Government's preferred route. He is a Labour minister. But no doubt he will seek to disown this threat and distance himself from it, just as he did when his Government closed seven local post offices against the wishes of local people.

"I am a strong supporter of linking Birmingham to London with High Speed Rail. It will be good for jobs and good for the region. But this proposal by Labour is seriously flawed on a number of levels, not least by failing to connect Birmingham directly to Heathrow.

"But in particular I am personally deeply concerned at Labour's proposed route, which will impact heavily on the villages of Coleshill, Gilson, Water Orton, Curdworth and Middleton.

"We need to stand up to Labour, and make the case to protect our local environment. There will now be a period of consultation, and we will need to make our voices heard. I am personally deeply concerned by this route and the impact it could have on the quality of life for local people.  We now need to arm ourselves with the facts to allow us to put forward the strongest possible case for protecting local residents."