§ Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone)I beg leave to present a petition signed by 567 inhabitants of the village of Marden, which is in my constituency.
British Rail is proposing to build a high-speed rail link from the Channel tunnel across Kent, and three of the proposed routes cross in or near my constituency. The village of Marden is immediately affected by route 3. Route 3 crosses virgin countryside where there has hitherto been no railway, whereas the other routes do not.
And the prayer of the petition reads:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urge British Rail to respect the wishes of those living in the affected area of Kent that no new railway line shall be built across the Weald.
§ To lie upon the Table.