Railway extension plan exemplifies politics done right

Oh, how we need some leaders with some vision at this time. Ploughing through the shopping at some supermarket last Tuesday morning, I thought I might have glimpsed it, the front page of this very newspaper declaring ‘Hopes for more stations as line proves a success.

- Hilton Dawson

Paying my £2.60, so intrigued that I was turning the pages even as I wheeled my trolley across the car park, I found it. The page two report on the continued success of the new Northumberland Line and a statement from Northumberland County Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Richard Wearmouth: “We're really keen to extend the line and we're really keen to get it to Newbiggin. That would be transformational for that town.”

Zippy doo, you're darned right it would.

Only fools deride democratic politics; sometimes it's foolish to deride politicians. I love politics; the essence of its often ignoble business is achieving change, making things happen, making them better. More often than we might imagine this can come at unlikely times, out of difficult circumstances, through negotiation and compromise and doing deals, all the while keeping your eyes fixed on some idea, some vision, some dream of progress.

Even from a minority Tory administration, an untested Labour mayor and the very imperfect development of ‘devolution’ which has brought us the North East Combined Authority.

All power to all those who are making such visions possible.

Some dreams are ‘deeply rooted in the American dream’ others in Northumberland communities and history. In fact, it’s perfectly clear that the extension of the Northumberland Line to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea would be transformational for the town, because it's already happened.