A working party tasked with responding to the Government as part of an exceptional hardship scheme has been created, and has pledged to fight for compensation for businesses and farms as well as homeowners.

The Government announced plans for the country's second high speed rail route in March, with claims that the line would bring Birmingham within 50 minutes of London.

The working party, which is made up of Kenilworth town councillors, will present a report to the Government later this month.

It will work with groups set up in Burton Green and the other villages which have been affected by the proposals.

Meetings have been taking place throughout the county to make sure these small groups work together rather than independently in order to have a united voice.

The consultation on compensation for cases of exceptional hardship will run until May 20, while formal consultation will begin in the autumn and run for six months.

A decision on whether to proceed is expected next year.

Cllr Michael Coker (Con, Kenilworth Abbey) said: "We have a few problems with this scheme as it doesn't take into account farms or businesses affected, only homes which have suffered a 15 per cent or more loss in their open market value.

"The problem is the proposed HS2 project's preferred route has caused an immediate and devastating impact upon the area already and we want this to be addressed in the scheme."

Jerry Marshall, who is leading a working group in Burton Green, is one of many who will have the railway track running through their back gardens if proposals go ahead.

He said: "I feel very upset that this line will do so much damage to the house and village that I love but it's a bigger issue than this.

"Vulnerable people now can't move house, there will be a loss of green belt and the whole idea of HS2 makes no economical or environmental sense."

Jeremy Wright, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Kenilworth and Southam said he was in favour of the principle of high-speed rail links, but felt alternative routes that may not cause as much damage needed to be looked at and a full consultation needed to be carried out.

The Kenilworth working party will meet on Tuesday to discuss their report further before presenting it.

Cllr Coker added: "We hope we can get the timetable for consultation on the scheme extended and the definition of the area covered by the compensation provisions made more clear.

"We also want all types of properties to be compensated."