Newsletter issue 2, July 2010
Keep Burton Green is taking a multi-pronged approach: events, direct approach to politicians, researching the case, working with national groups, etc.
THE GREENWAY – OUR TREASURED AMENITY
This 4.5 mile strip of land between Kenilworth and Berkswell, much improved since the Lottery Grant of 2008, offers spectacular views of Warwickshire countryside and gives absolute security and tranquillity. Today walkers, runners, horse riders, cyclists, and dog walkers are ever present on the Greenway, and it is not only Burton Green residents who are attracted to its charms. Dog walkers from Leamington who travel by car just to enjoy the Greenway’s safety and serenity and cyclists from Warwick, encounter the more intrepid walkers who use this link to join up with the Coventry Way to Meriden or the Centenary Way to Warwick. Today the Greenway is a vital part of Burton Green life and we urge you to follow up the impressive act of community of July 4th with the September 5th event.
KEEP OUR GREENWAY WALK
SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
Walk, cycle or run to the village hall from Kenilworth or Balsall Common then
MEET AT THE VILLAGE HALL 2.00 – 5.00
Folk session, licensed bar, late lunches, early teas.
WE CANNOT AFFORD HS2
HS2 was the brainchild of the last Government, renowned for its wasteful spending habit. There are few benefits. The proposal costs £160m per mile of track is enough to pay for Sandwell school’s £25m refurbishment, and more than 5 other schools too – and all for one mile of track! The reason HS2 doesn’t work in the UK is that this is over ten times the cost of the French TGV per mile. Environmentally HS2 is an appalling project, destroying natural habitat, bulldozing communities and increasing CO2 emissions. The economic case is flawed because it requires a three fold increase in passengers to be viable and no development of video conferencing etc. over the 60 years for which the benefit is calculated. Not does the HS2 case allow for the disbenefit to Coventry commuters, who face a longer journey time and only one service an hour. Should this project go ahead, it will be the ordinary taxpayer paying for the benefit of the elite few. It is an ill-conceived project suitable for binning in the Strategic Spending Review.
JOIN THE SPENDING REVIEW
The Strategic Spending Review, first announced as a strategy by the Chancellor, George Osborne, in his June 2010 Budget, is now open to the Public for their views. The Review is to be published on 20 October 2010 and will set out spending for the next four years. Time is of an essence, go to http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk , search for ‘HS2’ and comment / rate entries. Or write to the Chancellor at HM Treasury, Spending Challenge Review, No. 1 Horse Guards, London SW1A 2HQ.
BURTON GREEN WINE FESTIVAL
It will feature a selection of 40 internationally recognised wines including
Rioja, Gran Reserva 2003,
Volnay 2006, Burgundy.
Tickets cost £15 pp – and are available on the door or by phoning as below.
Festival of Wine 2010
At Burton Green Village Hall
Friday 6th August at 7pm till 10pm
Tickets £15
Informal evening tasting wines from around the world with light snacks
Organized through Burton Green Wine club
Tickets from Crazy Kiln, The Orangery near Waitrose/Pine shop near Kenilworth Clock Tower
Or Tel. The Aizlewood’s 024 7646 5765 or The Vernon’s 024 7646 4188
200 CLUB
The first draw for the 200 Club will take place at the Wine Festival. It would be wonderful if all those who have joined would be present. Let us build on the community spirit that was so evident on our march and enjoy together another village event.
WHERE IS THE COLOUR?
The printed publication is an update. The July edition is black and white, in September we will be back in colour in a fuller edition. a
THE MINISTER SPEAKS BUT MAKES NO SENSE!
School rebuilds are scrapped, public services are dissipated, but High Speed Rail Network, costing billions of pounds is to go ahead! Philip Hammond, The Transport Secretary endorses this “truly strategic project” which would ‘change the social and economic geography of the country.’
It sounds wonderful of course but it makes no sense! We recognise how 19th century railways transformed British life. Communities who were fortunate to be stationed on the line thrived; Britain prospered and became the workshop of the world. Just as important, ordinary people were liberated with cheap travel, while the nation came together with standard time and a national press.HS2 is not a successor to this glorious age, but an imposter. It travels so quickly because it rarely stops.
Only big cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and of course London will benefit, but even that improvement will be minuscule despite outrageous expenditure. How will those towns, desperate for investment, be regenerated when HS2 passes them by? Yes, Mr Hammond, you are right: the economic geography of this country will be changed. As recent Spanish research in Europe reveals, those communities not directly on the line will be harmed.
How will social geography be changed? Clues can be drawn from the Minister’s contribution to a railway symposium; payments worth millions of pounds to the bus companies are under review. What would this mean if grants were withdrawn? Fares will face an overnight increase of 10% whilst routes through the countryside and between towns will be cut with some rural areas losing their only public transport links. Yes, the social geography will be altered dramatically. HS2 will help rich people travel very fast on a Government subsidised fare on the backs of a ravaged countryside, blighted households and languishing rural communities. When you consider the enormous social benefits of 19th century railways the claims made by Mr Hammond for HS2 are shoddy and meaningless.
WESTWOOD HEATH – OUR BATTLE IS YOURS!
Some of you in Westwood would have received our recent newsletter. This was no accident. Fighting HS2 is not only our battle but yours! If the line is built, those wonderful views from Westwood Heath towards Crackley will be in danger. Although the Regional Spatial Strategy has been delayed for now, the property developers still hover. How can future housing developments, such as South Hurst Farm, be opposed on environmental grounds when HS2, clearly visible and audible, scars the landscape? The separation between Kenilworth and Coventry will be lost and the whole area downgraded.
Already we have common links with St John’s Church, is it not time for our two communities to combine more closely? Why not join our 200 Club or especially come to our Wine Festival on Friday August 6th? We were pleased that a few from Westwood joined our march and it is important to build on that community spirit that was tangible on July 4th.
We are lucky to be surrounded with such wonderful countryside. Let us make sure that HS2 is defeated so that future generations can appreciate it.