Restoration of Woodhead is the only real solution

WHILE the unprecedented floods delivered the knock-out blow resulting in the major landslip on the A6102 at the Middlewood Tavern, it must not be allowed to conceal the wider issue.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jul 2007, 10:32 BST
Updated 10th Aug 2007, 10:36 BST

The entire upper Don Valley infrastructure is creaking from increasing traffic; it cannot cope and earlier warning signs were posted by the burst water main at Oughtibridge several years ago. Since then, the position has become much worse, thanks to numerous housing developments along this corridor. An alternative to private transport must be provided and that must include the scrapping of the proposed 112 million Mottram by-pass,which the Highways Agency readily admits will merely transfer congestion eastwards to Langsett. The solution for the upper Don Valley rests with a restored Woodhead rail link. This line was built for the future, unlike the competing road. The situation regarding Woodhead is becoming critical. A last chance saloon scenario is looming. There is a real threat posed by the prospect of electric cables being installed in Woodhead tunnel, which would destroy all hopes of a restored rail link.

If the UK is to compete in the global economy then it must possess modern transport infrastructure. Green issues, we are told, represent a key element of Government policy and what greater green test could there be for the Government than the reinstatement of Woodhead?

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If cable installation through Woodhead tunnel proceeds then the Government will have truly abdicated its responsibilities and condemned the upper Don Valley to prolonged misery.

A Oldfield, Secretary, Huddersfield Penistone & Sheffield Rail Users Association.

Related topics:Government