Nick Appleyard Monday, December 20, 2010

Hammond set to unveil HS2 plans

Transport secretary Philip Hammond is set to unveil his preferred route for the HS2 high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham.


But campaigners have claimed the minister is attempting to bury the unpopular plan, while the nation is gripped by the big freeze.

Last week, Warwickshire County Council became the latest local authority to oppose the route. Staffordshire County Council, Coventry City Council and Chiltern District Council are among a group of about 20 authorities totally opposed to HS2.

Mr Hammond has met with local government leaders to discuss the plans and have revealed the route has been altered to deal with concerns over impacts on communities and nature.

The multibillion-pound project is due to be started in 2015 and will cut journey times between London and Birmingham by 30 minutes.

Joe Rukin said, director of the Stop HS2 Campaign, said: ‘Philip Hammond wants to make out that everyone opposing this project is a Nimby, so he can hide from the fact there is no business case, no environmental case and no money to pay for it.

‘There are better cheaper alternatives which would be quicker to deliver and would give more benefit to far more people, not just this exceptionally narrow corridor, but the Government haven’t worked up the options.’
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