logo
Spending Review appeal for Devon railway link

Spending Review appeal for Devon railway link

Yahoo9 hours ago

Rail campaigners are battling for £1.5m government cash in the upcoming Spending Review to make a business case for a railway link in Devon.
TavyRail campaign group would like to see a five-mile (8km) section of track between Tavistock and Plymouth reinstated.
Services to Tavistock ended in the 1960s during the cuts by Dr Richard Beeching when the railways were restructured.
The Department of Transport (DfT) said it was "committed" to delivering transport infrastructure to "boost growth and opportunity".
It added: "The Government inherited an extremely challenging financial position, and these projects will be considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review."
TavyRail said only £1.5m of the project's £150m budget was needed to complete its business case and obtain necessary reports, with the remainder not required until construction in 2028.
Richard Searight, Tavyrail chairman, said the initial outlay would pay for experts to consider whether the line to Plymouth via Bere Alston would be "practical and value for money".
He said by 2028 the government would hopefully be in a "more secure" financial position.
The previous Conservative government said savings from scrapping the northern leg of the HS2 project could be used to reopen the line between Plymouth and Tavistock.
Devon County Council (DCC) submitted a business case for restoring the line in 2022, with hourly trains to Plymouth via Bere Alston.
In 2024, the Labour government outlined plans to cancel or shelve a number of rail projects because they were promised without funding or a plan to deliver them.
Deputy mayor of Tavistock, Anne Johnson, who is also vice-chairman of TavyRail, said housing plans had been agreed "off the back of the railway" and there was a "desperate need" for it to go ahead.
Steve Hipsey, Mayor of Tavistock, said: "The current estimate is that we have about 1,600 people commuting into Plymouth every day along the A386, and that can't be a good thing in terms of sustainability and carbon emissions."
"I think the whole thing makes a lot of sense in terms of economy, sustainability and social aspects as well."
Lack of South West transport funding criticised
Government urged not to ditch Devon rail scheme

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

I would normally stand with our police, but they've made it almost impossible
I would normally stand with our police, but they've made it almost impossible

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

I would normally stand with our police, but they've made it almost impossible

Does your heart bleed for our poor put-upon police, as they warn that their service is in 'crisis'? Or hearing of their plight, do you feel like giving them a shake? In a slight variation on the annual moan-fest that is the Police Federation conference, senior representatives of the service have penned a joint article listing their many woes. With dismal absence of originality, they complain of 'crushed' morale and thinning blue lines, as underpaid, overworked officers jack it all for early retirement to the Costas. As the Spending Review looms, behold the usual desperate attempt to guilt trip ministers into ponying up more cash. Those of us who grew up with kindly constables coming to school to talk about 'stranger danger' and the Green Cross Code yearn for the heroes of our youth. They were the human barrier between good and evil, fighting the good fight against robbers and child snatchers. How we used to look up to them and take comfort from their solid, reassuring presence on our streets. Wouldn't it be nice to experience such pure, uncomplicated feelings of admiration about the police today? The trouble is they just keep letting us down, behaving in ways that are spineless and foolish, and going after all the wrong people in all wrong ways. Modern training appears to prohibit any exercise of discretion or common sense, in favour of moronic tick box responses and rainbow coloured cars. I am reminded of this every Friday morning, when swarms of officers descend on the Embankment in central London in search of the odd trucker who might not have the right paperwork. With the luxury of crime free streets and unlimited resources this dreary weekly exercise might be worthwhile, but as dope heads, muggers and petty thieves do their worst all around, it is a very curious priority. Of course there are still good guys who are horrified by the systematic misallocation of resources. They cringe at the pursuit of totally inconsequential 'hate crimes' and even more ridiculous 'non hate crime incidents'. Still valiantly trying to catch real criminals, they were appalled by the diminishment of their roles during the pandemic, when they were forced to police petty lockdown breaches. Old pros have no difficulty understanding that flimsy complaints about unpleasant Tweets rarely require a siren-wailing response, and that having black or brown skin should never provide an exemption from the law. Tragically, these stalwarts can no longer rely on either the support or sound judgement of their bosses, who have a nasty habit of punishing bravery and initiative. Just ask poor Stg Martyn Blake, who put his life on the line in pursuit of a man with previous convictions and gangland associations – and found himself charged with murder. Having been cleared by the courts, he now faces an investigation for 'gross misconduct.' Then there's PC Lorne Castle, sacked by Dorset Police for failing to treat a knife-wielding teenager with sufficient 'respect.' The way these decent officers and others are make split second decisions in life threatening situations are treated beggars belief. Then again, some plods deserve everything they get. Witness the grotesque cowardice of the officers who allegedly tasered a confused one-legged nonagenarian after he refused orders to put down a butter knife. In that single inexplicable act, these cruel clowns brought their entire profession into disrepute. Remember all this, as they beg the Government for bigger budgets. Sorry, but I'm struggling to find my violin. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Western guests including Elon Musk's father to speak at pro-Putin oligarch's Moscow forum
Western guests including Elon Musk's father to speak at pro-Putin oligarch's Moscow forum

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Western guests including Elon Musk's father to speak at pro-Putin oligarch's Moscow forum

A pro-Putin Russian oligarch is hosting a two-day conference in Moscow on Monday, featuring a lineup of western speakers, including Elon Musk's father, Errol, the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and the British politician George Galloway. The conference, titled Future Forum 2050, is organised by Konstantin Malofeev – an influential ultra-nationalist tycoon close to the Kremlin and under western sanctions – and appears to mark Moscow's latest effort to court western figures. Other foreign guests include the American economist Jeffrey Sachs and the Briton Matthew Groves, a former East Surrey councillor the organisers mistakenly describe as a 'Conservative group deputy leader'. The conference will also feature several prominent Russian officials, including Sergei Lavrov, Russia's longtime foreign minister, and Sergei Mironov, a veteran hawkish politician who adopted a two-year-old child seized by Moscow from a Ukrainian children's home. According to the organisers, the event will cover topics such as 'foreign policy and national priorities', 'culture and traditional values' and a panel titled 'Maga in Russia'. Once seen as fringe figures, Malofeev and the ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin, who is co-organising the conference, have gained increasing influence in Moscow since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent aggressive nationalist turn. The pair have also worked to cultivate ties with influencers abroad who could help shape opinion in Donald Trump's America. It was not immediately clear whether the western speakers would travel to Russia or appear via video. However, before of the conference, Errol Musk was photographed in Moscow, where he downplayed the dispute between his son Elon, the world's richest man, and Trump during an interview with Russian media. 'You know they have been under a lot of stress for five months, you know, give them a break,' Musk Sr told the Russian state-run Izvestia newspaper. 'They are very tired and stressed so you can expect something like this. 'Trump will prevail – he's the president, he was elected as the president. So, you know, Elon made a mistake, I think. But he is tired, he is stressed.' Errol Musk also suggested the row 'was just a small thing' and would 'be over tomorrow'. The 79-year-old has previously voiced admiration for Vladimir Putin, claiming in an interview this year that his entire family was 'a little bit in awe' of him. Elon Musk has become one of the most vocal critics of US support for Ukraine, and is reported to have held secret talks with Putin during the continuing war.

Helen Chandler-Wilde: Where Is All the Money Going?
Helen Chandler-Wilde: Where Is All the Money Going?

Bloomberg

time2 hours ago

  • Bloomberg

Helen Chandler-Wilde: Where Is All the Money Going?

Hi there, it's Helen Chandler-Wilde, a UK journalist and editor of The Readout. Hope you enjoy today's newsletter. This week we're all crouched low, waiting for the Spending Review to hit on Wednesday. There have been a few policies trailed already in the press: science and technology will apparently get a boost of £86 billion, there'll be hundreds of billions for infrastructure (but not in London), and other outlets are reporting today that there could also be a boost in police funding.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store