Councillors lash out at 'insulting' trains reply
CABINET members of Hastings Borough Council have joined their leader in slamming a Government response dismissing rail protestors' concerns over links to London.
Councillors in a meeting on Monday called the letter from the Department for Transport minister Chris Mole, reported in last week's Observer, "insulting" and "imperious".
Mr Mole was responding to a letter written by leader of the Council Peter Pragnell protesting over proposed cuts to the Charing Cross line.
Cllr Richard Stevens said: "I found it offensive. It didn't even seem as though Mr Mole understood all the facts we are faced with."
The exchange between Government and the local authority was sparked by proposals published by Network Rail in January to withdraw all direct trains between Hastings and Cannon Street from 2015 and reduce the number of coaches running to Charing Cross from 12 to eight.
Cllr Pragnell repeated his comments from last week's Observer by calling the letter, "a further blow for the people of Hastings", and said he would press for a meeting with the Secretary of State.
Under current proposals outlined in the Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), Hastings is set to lose six trains a day, which council officers estimate carry more than 1,000 commuters from 1066 Country to the City.
Rail Minister Chris Mole's letter said: "I am surprised that you should expect the removal of just six trains a day, and trains targeted at City commuters at that, to register sufficient socio-economic disbenefits to cause a change in policy."
Cllr Pragnell said: "People should be able to get themselves and their goods back and forwards at faster than a walking pace. In the 21st century you don't expect travel to get worse.
"We've got to continue to demand this meeting so that Hastings isn't shunted off as others benefit from development opportunities.
Cllr Roy Tucker said: "If we don't get these things then Hastings will slowly be strangled.
"Companies will not come here and put their money and time into setting up factories unless they feel sure that things are going to improve.
"I thought the letter was offhand and imperious."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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