The Spectator

Full speed aheadSir: William Astor (‘Signal failure’, 14 January) writes that High Speed 2 is supported only by ‘northern Labour MPs who relish the thought of the beauty of the Chilterns being destroyed’. He seems to have missed the MPs from across the House of Commons who joined forces this week to welcome the project. Links between the north and the south of our nation are of vital importance. Better connections are great for jobs across the north of England, but they are also necessary for the overdue rebalancing of our economy to which the Prime Minister is firmly committed. Lord Astor relies on the internet as proof that rail demand will decrease. The evidence suggests otherwise. The West Coast Mainline is now forecast to be completely full by 2024.

CondemnedA Norfolk woman was given the honour of pressing a button to demolish a tower at the Campbells soup factory where her father was scalded to death in 1995. Here are some other buildings demolished to expunge bad memories: — 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, former home of Fred and Rose West — 5 College Close, Soham, Cambridgeshire, house where Ian Huntley killed two ten-year-old girls in 2002 — Beb al-Azizlya Compound, Tripoli, former home of General Gaddafi — Muiredge Cottage, Buckhaven, Fife, bungalow where Rab Thomson murdered his two children — 12205 Imperial Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, house where Anthony Sowell raped, murdered and buried 11 women All at seaThe cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized after striking rocks off Tuscany.