Councils Unite to Oppose High Speed 2 (HS2)

OPPOSITION to the Government's proposed high speed rail project (HS2) is gathering momentum as the start date for the public consultation approaches. Thirteen local authorities are now united in a national campaign to actively oppose the scheme.

The Government is expected to announce the start of the consultation on 28 February.

Each of the councils has signed up to the following position statement:

"The authorities along the route have come together to oppose the proposals for High Speed Rail as they are currently proposed.

We do not believe that the business case stacks up and therefore cannot support the route suggested by Government and are actively working on a plan to strongly object to the proposals.

We are opposed to the current High Speed rail proposals as they are presently outlined and do not believe that they are in the best interests of the UK as a whole in terms of the benefits claimed in the business case

We are not opposed to the need for higher speed rail per se and fully acknowledge the need for strategic improvement to the national rail infrastructure but cannot agree with the current proposals as the economic and environmental benefits are not at all credible.

We do not believe that all the other alternatives to achieve the transport capacity, regeneration and environmental benefits have been fully explored by the Government and with in excess of £30billion proposed to be invested, we owe it to the nation to ensure these are fully explored."

The councils who are now involved are:

• Buckinghamshire County Council
• Aylesbury Vale District Council
• Chiltern District Council
• South Bucks District Council
• Wycombe District Council
• London Borough of Hillingdon
• Cherwell District Council
• Lichfield District Council
• South Northants District Council
• Warwick District Council
• North Warwickshire Borough Council
• Warwickshire County Council
• Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Some local authorities are contributing money to the 'fighting fund' which will be used to pay for any necessary expert advice and legal costs. Expenditure will be carefully regulated and monitored.

A number of other local authorities have expressed an interest in joining together to fight HS2 and are waiting approval from their Cabinet/Councils.