And look - a masterclass in NIMBYISM

Now, we really do not see anything intrinsically bad in being a NIMBY - after all, what is more natural than one's interest being more sharply focused on an issue which directly affects one's environment.  HOWEVER, when the oft repeated charge against people sensible enough to object to HS2 is that they are NIMBYS, it is only fair that one should look at the record of the person shouting NIMBY. Is it a touch below the belt to enjoy the fact that Mr Philip Hammond's apparent Nimbyism is related to . .  .trains/railways!

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6 Mar 2001 : Column 50WH

Central Railway

12.58 pm

Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge): I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this subject in debate. It has been raised on several previous occasions, but I make no apology for raising again a matter that is of importance to my constituents. A major threat has been posed to hundreds of households in my constituency and thousands of households along the length of the proposed route of a railway line. Since the subject was properly debated in the House, there have been considerable changes in the surrounding landscape and the company has announced that it intends to pursue a different route in seeking approval for the project.

Mr Hammond - we are NOT nimbys

Difficult for our transport secretary to speak without accusing opponents of HS2 of either lacking vision or of living along the proposed route.

Firstly, there is nothing basically wrong with being concerned about one's own environment.  Secondly, most people who want to stop HS2 near their homes also want to stop HS2 completely. . . and thirdly, Mr Hammond, you know full well that there has been no great effort by HS2 or the government to bring this to the attention of the country; a few people along the proposed route found out and, fortunately, made great efforts to bring it to the attention of the rest of us - not surprisingly, the main efforts were made to inform people along the proposed line.  When you, Mr Hammond, make comments that it is mainly people along the proposed line complaining, you surely realise that it is both a cheap shot and also that you are responsible for not having informed the population.  Many of us (probably most of us) are not as stupid as you would like to think.