The Government would like to proceed with HS2 but they still have a many hurdles to overcome. There is much that can still be done to derail this ridiculous project. Raising funds to support the huge anount of work over the coming months and years will be critical. Whether donating directly to HS2 Action Alliance or Stop HS2, or if you prefer join many others who have purchase a copy or two of the Oak Tree Lament shown below.

You can buy one copy of each version of the track (there are two) per credit/debit card per vendor under chart rules. And you can also send gift copies by email to your friends and family and even your MP! – Anyone you have an email address for. Multiple purchases only get disqualified under chart rules if you use the same method of payment on the same website for a personal (not gift) download.

Besides buying the track, we hope you can forward this information as far and wide as you can by email and social media.

HMV 79p per track.
Amazon 69p per track.
7 Digital 99p per track or £1.59 the pair
Play.com 99p per track
iTunes 79p per track.

You can order the track for download to your computer by texting TRACK 7655 to 80818 (Costs £1). You will then get a password to download it from the text a track website. You can also order the track for download direct to your mobile phone (not iPhone) by texting TRACK 7655 m to 80818. Costs will vary depending on your data download plan.

Is this what we want for the UK?
If the Government were proposing Maglev instead, then perhaps it would have some benefit for the UK, but even that is very tenuous without the improvements over the rest of the rail network as proposed in the Rail Package 2 proposals.
The High Speed 2 plans as they currently stand are using an outdated technology, implemented for the wrong reasons, with no real commitment to produce a proper High Speed transport network that may actually benefit the wider population of this country.
This money could be better spent on so many other things, spent on better transport for all, spent on boosting real business development and employment, spent on improving life for people across the whole of the UK.
We shall wait and see what our politicians at Westminster value more highly.
Will it be their vanity project or the well-being of the public who put them there?

Directed by: Laura Israel
After wind turbines are proposed for installation in upstate New York, the community’s excitement turns to suspicion over what the project entails. This eye-opening story exposes the darker side of wind energy development and the potential for financial issues.

Right click this link and open in a new tab for more wind farm information.
http://www.warmwell.com/windfarms.html

Do you think the Government should now implement the full extent of Rail Package 2 improvements to the benefit of the whole rail network and its users? Should the Government fully consider if there is actually a need for very high speed rail, and if a requirement is proven, should the Government properly consider the vastly superior, multi station, twin track Maglev network proposals? Should the Government use the correct Maglev costs of £30m per km rather than the grossly overstated costs originated by DfT in the 2007 Rail White Paper?

If there is a case for extra high speed rail capacity is HS2 really the best option?
Do you think Maglev is a better solution? Write to your MP with your views.
It is very important to get your family and friends around the UK to write to their MPs too.
Whether you did the consultation or not, you should write to your MP.

Right click this link and open in a new tab. http://www.writetothem.com/
This is a simple web site where you type in your postcode to find your local councillors, your MP and your MEPs. Click on the links you want and a page is opened as an online email for you to complete and send. You then will receive a verification email for you to confirm your wishes to send the letter. Quick and very effective.

UK Ultraspeed – Maglev live in Shanghai

UK Ultraspeed – The Maglev Economics

The consultation is over but that does not mean we sit back and rest.
Over the next few months the data will be analysed.
We are expecting a decision from the Government towards the end of this year.
If the decision is to proceed then the Government will embark upon the Environment Impact Assessment for HS2.
This will be a huge body of work that will likely take us beyond the next General Election.

What should you do now? Write to your MP with your views on HS2.
It is very important to get your family and friends around the UK to write to their MPs too. Whether you did the consultation or not, you should write to your MP.

Right click this link and open in a new tab. http://www.writetothem.com/
This is a simple web site where you type in your postcode to find your local councillors, your MP and your MEPs.
Click on the links you want and a page is opened as an online email for you to complete and send.
You then will receive a verification email for you to confirm your wishes to send the letter.

Quick and very effective.

As the consultation deadline for the £32bn high-speed rail network approaches, campaigners tell Channel 4 News it is “totally flawed,” whilst the FactCheck team explore the issue of compensation.

HS2 Limited recently stated:
•The consultation period ends at midnight on 29 July; all responses must be sent by/on that date.
•Postal responses will only be accepted if they are postmarked 29 July 2011.
•Electronic responses sent after midnight on 29 July will not be accepted.
•To avoid confusion and guarantee that responses are included in the process, HS2 Ltd advise people to submit responses by midday on 29 July at the latest.

Visit www.51.co.uk for help in responding to the consultation.
The online form is highspeedrail@dft.gsi.gov.uk

I say if you were too late then write to your MP.
Get your family and friends around the UK to respond to the consultation and write to their MPs too.
http://www.writetothem.com/

HS2 Limited recently stated:
•The consultation period ends at midnight on 29 July; all responses must be sent by/on that date.
•Postal responses will only be accepted if they are postmarked 29 July 2011.
•Electronic responses sent after midnight on 29 July will not be accepted.
•To avoid confusion and guarantee that responses are included in the process, HS2 Ltd advise people to submit responses by midday on 29 July at the latest.

I say if you were too late then write to your MP.
Get your family and friends around the UK to respond to the consultation and write to their MPs too.
http://www.writetothem.com/

Route to destruction..? By The Woodland Trust
A day out along the first High Speed One route shows us what High Speed Two has in store for the environment.

Visit www.51.co.uk for help in responding to the consultation.
The online form is highspeedrail@dft.gsi.gov.uk

If you are too late then write to your MP.
Get your family and friends around the UK to respond to the consultation and write to their MPs too.
http://www.writetothem.com/

A slide-show created by Keith Hoffmeister, a member of the Chiltern Society.
Video stops short of Aylesbury Vale but you will get the picture.

Visit www.51.co.uk for help in responding to the consultation.
The online form is highspeedrail@dft.gsi.gov.uk

If you are too late then write to your MP.
Get your family and friends around the UK to respond to the consultation and write to their MPs too.
http://www.writetothem.com/

Martin Lewis, journalist and consumer campaigner who created MoneySavingExpert.com
He speaks about the changes to the student tution fee system.

AVDC Licensing Meeting 18/07/2011
Taxi cabs and private hire vehicles are often accused of speeding.
Private hire cabs are accused of picking up jobs on the street rather than through bookings so they are uninsured as a result.
This will of course be the minority causing the problem and giving a bad name to the majority of law abiding, sensible drivers.

Certain other areas operate a tracking system and this is what I asked to be investigated.
Conservative Janet Blake’s negative comments on my proposals were not in keeping with view of the Licencing Committee and as such the committee did not object to my suggestion that the idea be investigated further.

What benefits could this bring?

For the trade:
Protection against false claims of speeding.
Protection against false claims of incorrect job pickups.
Protection against false claims of out of assigned area operation.
With limited access, a real time system of monitoring where their own vehicles are.

For the public:
Less likelihood of speeding (as it is monitored).
Easier identification of any vehicle involved in an incident.
Less chance of getting into a private cab when not pre booked.
A record of routes taken being the most direct.

For AVDC:
Easier checking of complaints registered by the public.
Easier checking of the areas taxis and cabs are operating in.
I am sure given more time we could think of other benefits.

Speaking to an owner of a local private cab firm this morning I confirmed that he would be more than happy to have trackers fitted in their vehicles.  He felt that it would be good protection for them against any false claims of speeding or non-booked job pickups.

Any complaints regarding the conduct of taxis or private hire vehicles are fully investigated by AVDC. If the complaint is found to be valid with sufficient evidence then action is taken upon it.

AVDC does already operate their own garage dedicated to testing all taxis and private cabs plated to operate in this area.
Every vehicle is inspected under a rigorous regime of yearly testing and some twice yearly.
Just as with the ordinary MOT though, this test is just a snap shot in time and any vehicle can develop faults between tests.  Regular maintenance is essential.

I look forward to seeing the report of how certain other authorities have implemented vehicle tracking and to better understand the benefits or pitfalls they have encountered.

Councillor David Vick
AVDC Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Waddesdon Ward of
Waddesdon, Ashendon, Nether Winchendon, Upper Winchendon and Fleet Marston