Press conference report - the issue of the Monsal Trail being re-opened as the London-Derby-Manchester railway.

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Geography – Miss Chant

                                                                        Cheryl Samuels 13F

                        Press Conference Report

On Monday 29th September a press conference was held to discuss the issue of the Monsal Trail being re-opened as the London-Derby-Manchester railway. The Monsal Trail is a much-used footpath running through main parts of the peak district park, it runs for 8.5km. The railway track was last in use in the 1960s. Here is what different committees in and around the Derbyshire and Peak District areas said.

Railtrack put forward the argument that it would solve a lot of transports problems. At present only 2% of people use public transport and they suggest that this is due to poor links. It is believed that tourism will soon replace agriculture as the main source of income in this area and therefore there needs to be better access. The benefits of re-opening the railway:

  • That it will relieve congestion on the road
  • Introduce new jobs into the area both making and running the railway
  • Faster inter-regional links

It is recognised that the Peak District is an area of natural beauty and they have said they will try to conserve it.

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Longstone Parish Council (near Monsal Head) has argued that the rail will disrupt the local’s quality of life because of all the pollution, which will come from the trains. There will be air pollution, noise pollution and visual pollution. They are also concerned at where the funding will come from and not be a burden of the locals. Research also shows that trains are an unpopular form of transport, which is why only 2% of people use them. The trains will be a damage to SSSI also. On the other hand it will be good for business, as it ...

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