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FAST SHOW: Trains like this Javelin will soon be cutting through Staffordshire.
BY ALEX CAMPBELL alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
Central and pass beneath Crewe in a two-and-a-half mile tunnel. Some of the 250-mph trains will stop at Crewe to link HS2 to North Wales, Liverpool and Scotland. Home Secretary Theresa May, who visited Crewe Station to launch the hub plans yesterday, said: “We believe HS2 will generate jobs, rebalance the economy and act as a catalyst for our future prosperity.” The construction of the second phase of HS2 should start in the middle of the next decade, with the line open by 2032.
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44-year-old stopped by police on suspicion of disqualified driving
MAN DIES AFTER BEING ‘TASERED’ BY LAURA JAMES
laura.james@thesentinel.co.uk
POLICE are being investigated over the death of a 44-year-old man – three months after he was shot with a Taser gun. Motorist Martin Baskeyfield was tasered in a Burslem street on September 29 after being stopped by police on suspicion of driving while disqualified. But Mr Baskeyfield was admitted to hospital on October 4 and remained at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire until his death on Monday. Now further medical tests are being carried out to see if there is a link
between the Taser incident and Mr Baskeyfield’s death. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Baskeyfield’s arrest after his relatives lodged an official complaint against Staffordshire Police. An IPCC spokesman said: “The IPCC is investigating the arrest of Martin Baskeyfield. During the arrest in Cotterill Grove, Burslem, he was tasered and taken to the Northern area custody facility, in Etruria. “He was admitted to hospital on October 4 and on October 9, Staffordshire Police received a complaint from a relative of Mr Baskeyfield about the police use of force during the arrest
withdrawn at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Tuesday. An initial post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday and an inquest is expected to be opened later this month. Mr Baskeyfield’s relatives today declined to comment on the investigation. A Staffordshire Police spokesman added: ““Following police contact with Mr Baskeyfield on September 29 in Stoke-on-Trent, we received a complaint from a member of his family. “As a result we referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and are fully co-operating with their independent investigation.”
and the force referred the incident to the IPCC. “The IPCC determined that an independent investigation should commence into the incident. That investigation continues into the full circumstances of the arrest. “Sadly, Mr Baskeyfield passed away in hospital on January 14. “A Home Office post-mortem examination is being conducted to determine the cause of death and the coroner has been informed.” Mr Baskeyfield, of Scotia Road, Tunstall, was charged with dangerous driving, disqualified driving, driving with no insurance, failing to stop for police and possessing cannabis following his arrest. The charges were
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‘Taser’ death inquest opens AN INQUEST into the death of a 44-year-old man who died three months after being shot with a police Taser gun has been opened. Martin Baskeyfield, of Scotia Road, Tunstall, died two weeks ago at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. He was admitted on October 4, just days after police fired the stun gun at him during his arrest for driving offences. It is believed he died from natural causes, but Mr Baskeyfield’s family lodged an official complaint against Staffordshire Police, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is now investigating. North Staffordshire Deputy Coroner Anthony Curzon, opened and adjourned the hearing yesterday.
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The proposed route of HS2’s second phase cuts through swathes of Staffordshire’s countryside – including villages like Swynnerton, Madeley and Betley – but leaves residents with no direct access to the line. Villagers in Swynnerton are staging a public meeting on Saturday in protest at the proposal. Stone MP Bill Cash said: “I will be taking every possible action to oppose this.” The Government revealed yesterday that the second phase of HS2 will run north from Birmingham on two branches with new stations at Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester Airport and Manchester
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but also unlock the benefits for North Staffordshire.” The Sentinel can reveal the city council turned down the chance to submit a joint bid for a HS2 hub with Cheshire East Council. The Tory-run authority described the city’s alternative proposals as a ‘non-starter’. It said North Staffordshire’s best opportunity to benefit from HS2 is by pressing for an electrified, high speed link from Stokeon-Trent to the new hub in Crewe. Leader Michael Jones said: “I’ve already spoken to the Government and said that Crewe deserves this, but Stoke-on-Trent needs to be part of it.”
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CITY and county leaders are travelling to London next week to meet the Transport Secretary to demand a High Speed rail hub next to the M6 in North Staffordshire. Crewe station is in line to get a £200 million stop on the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the £32.7 billion HS2 rail network – slashing journeys to the capital from one hour 40mins to 58 minutes with at least two high speed trains every hour. A new HS2 maintenance depot in Crewe will create 300 jobs. But Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council are meeting Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to call for the new hub to be built instead between junction 15 and 16 of the M6. City council deputy leader Paul Shotton said: “That will kill two birds with one stone. It would enable HS2 to be close to Crewe’s connectivity
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■ HS2 rail link to create 300 jobs ■ Demands made to move hub site ■ Villagers’ anger at rural upheaval
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