Alex Green responds to John O’Connell’s HS2 article.
Dear Editor
The Taxpayers’ Alliance criticises the building of HS2, but again there is no word about the need or the benefits of the lines or the interaction with Northern Powerhouse Rail. No mention of the building of HS3 across the Pennines from Manchester to Leeds as part of the high-speed network that originates from the building of HS2. No mention of the benefits to the British people designing and building the line nor of the next generations that will prosper from its existence – as we have from the Victorian era.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance needs to accept that a prime purpose of government is to co-ordinate and finance the building of national infrastructure so that businesses and industries can prosper and produce tax revenue. We need these seed corns from government as no private company would undertake the long-winded planning and building processes.