A curious child

Isle of Wight also demands compensation for HS2

The Plaid Cymru election manifesto argues that Wales should get £4bn compensation for HS2. This is despite the fact that no houses in Wales have been knocked down, no tunnels built, and no sheep disturbed. But Plaid Cymru clearly feel that they have a case.

This has emboldened the Isle of Wight Independence Party to argue along similar lines and make rail improvements part of its platform.

Colin Card, 63, says that there is an ‘obvious’ case for investment in the railway line that runs between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin. Colin says that a feasibility study, conducted by Norman from the model railway club, shows that the current 28 minute journey time could easily be cut to 23 minutes. The economic benefits are therefore huge, because a massive amount of productive time will be released. 'HS2 only cut 10 minutes off the journey from London to Birmingham,' says Colin, 'so our plans knock that into a cocked hat.'

Colin also says that there is also a good economic case for integrating services between Smallbrook Junction and Wootton, currently served by a heritage railway. And there is also a strong case (Norman again) for extending the existing railway from Shanklin to Ventnor, as travellers to Ventnor must currently complete their journey from Shanklin station by bus. In their wilder moments, Colin and Norman dream of a circular railway line running round the whole island. And some trains, obviously.

The islanders will be tracking the Plaid Cymru case very closely. If Wales is successful, then there should be no barrier to funding for the Isle of Wight. £4bn would be just the ticket.

Image: Bucarama-TLM - Pixabay

Woman thought to be having stroke “was just speaking Welsh”

Paramedics called to attend to an old lady in Shrewsbury today were baffled that, despite confused and disordered speech, she wasn’t showing any other signs of having had a stroke.

”It was bizarre,” said Mike Oldham. “Her face hadn’t fallen on either side, and she could raise her arms above shoulder height, once she understood we were asking her to do that. Yet her speech was slurred and made no sense at all.

“It was only when I saw the webbed fingers and hairy feet that I realised she was Welsh. I sometimes forget how close we are to the border - they do occasionally make it across.”

It’s thought the woman may have become confused by the tall buildings and electric lights in Shrewsbury, causing her to trip and hit her head. However, once she came round paramedics were able to ascertain that, aside from being Welsh, there was nothing wrong with her at all.

The Welsh government issued a statement following the woman’s safe return to her home in Llareggub. Unfortunately, we’ve no idea what it was.

image from pixabay