Settle-Carlisle Railway (Hansard, 29 November 1988)

§ Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax)
More than 2,000 of my—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Will hon. Members wishing to leave the Chamber please do so quietly?

§ Mrs. Mahon
More than 2,000 of my constituents have asked me to present a petition to save the beautiful and historic Settle-Carlisle railway. [Interruption.]

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This is an important petition but I cannot hear it. Could you please ask hon. Members to leave quietly or to listen to the petition?

§ Mr. Speaker
I have already made that request, but I will make it again. Will hon. Members please leave the Chamber quietly?

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
Let my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) speak with sophistication.

§ Mr. Speaker
I am sorry about that.

§ Mrs. Mahon
This petition has been presented to me by over 2,000 of my constituents to try to bring pressure to bear on the Government to save this historic and beautiful line.
Many people who live in the area value it as an essential transport system and many people wishing to visit the area use it as an amenity. For people travelling between the midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland, it is an excellent line both for communications and for historic beauty.
Therefore, I present this petition gladly on behalf of my constituents in the hope that it will do some good. It contains 2,000 names, and I understand that some 8,000 names will be presented this week.

§ Mrs. Ann Taylor (Dewsbury)
I wish to present a similar petition on behalf of Mrs. Patricia Ashton, Mr. John Ashton and over 2,000 people living in the Dewsbury area of west Yorkshire who are concerned about the future of the Settle-Carlisle railway line. They believe that the railway line should have a future, not only as a tourist attraction and not only because it opens up an important and beautiful area of the country but because it should also form an essential part of this country's rail network and could have a use as an important freight line if British Rail were to exploit its full potential.
Many people in the north of England understand the full significance of the line—its historic significance, its engineering significance, and the way in which it opens up beautiful parts of the north of England to serve the many people who can appreciate its beauty.
We believe that British Rail has not taken the line seriously. Contrary to the views of Conservative Members who do not seem interested in this matter, we believe that this is an important issue. It is a significant achievement that over 2,000 people in my constituency and, I understand, over 80,000 people in all have signed petitions 677 about the future of the Settle-Carlisle railway. I hope that those who are seriously concerned about the future of railways in this country, and in particular about the future of this Settle-Carlisle line, will urge the Government to reconsider their position on this matter. This line has great significance to the whole of the north of England and to this country's railway network.

§ Mr. Michael Jopling (Westmorland and Lonsdale)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I was hoping to present a petition tonight but do not know whether it appears on your list.

§ Mr. Speaker
Yes, it is on my sheet.

§ Mr. Jopling
I too wish to present a petition in support of the Settle-Carlisle railway line. However, unlike the hon. Members for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) and for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor), the Settle-Carlisle railway line passes through my constituency and is a matter of great importance to many of my constituents. This petition has been signed by about 3,000 people, many of whom are constituents of mine.
678 I have expressed my views on this line previously in the House. Indeed, I expressed them a few months ago when the disappointing announcement was made that the line had to pass out of British Rail's hands. I hope that it will be possible to find a way to keep the line open in the future. It is a famous line which has justifiably received a great deal of publicity. Its features have become widely known and understood.
The petition is in the name of Mrs. Rosalind Templeman of 7 Railway Cottages, Garsdale, Sedbergh, Cumbria. I have great pleasure in presenting it to the House.

§ Mr. Michael Lord (Suffolk, Central)
I also have the honour to present a petition regarding the Settle to Carlisle railway and the associated Blackburn to Hellifield branch line. It contains approximately 2,050 signatures, and states that the petitioners pray that the Settle-Carlisle railway and the associated Blackburn to Hellifield railway will be retained as an integral part of the national railway network.