The news that the Chinese are interested in the £32 billion waste of money in the high speed train is another argument against it.

The recent report to a Commons select committee had already driven nails into the proposal.

It reinforced the problems with the business case, noting that the £44 billion gain estimated by the Government was “surrounded by a degree of uncertainty” and that the environment and regeneration impacts are not fully set out in the government’s assessment” and “there is relatively but not fully set out in the Government’s assessment”. In plain language, the costs are not worked out and the benefits are uncertain.

The report also said the gains to London and Birmingham may be offset by losses elsewhere.

It is quite clear Staffordshire and Warwickshire will lose, Warwickshire by the immediate losses on the London to Birmingham line, Staffordshire by the extension to the north.

The trains will not stop at a speed of 250mph. Thus Wolverhampton, Walsall, Stafford, Stoke, Stockport and all the other towns in between will be left out. In this context, it is bizarre that anyone should greet Chinese involvement with anything but horror.

Yes, the Chinese would like £32 billion for building up their already bloated economy and achieving world dominance. But to expect the English taxpayer to stump up for a line they will not be able to use, without guarantees the money goes to British firms, is nonsense.

This would make the line the biggest Chinese takeaway in history. At what point are the advocates of the high speed train going to get the message. This line is not going to be built.

Trevor Fisher

Stafford