Placard power prevails as county rejects HS2

Both Warwickshire County Council and Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White will oppose the plans, with the former saying he will rebel against the Coalition Government if the HS2 proposals come to the table.

The council’s unanimous decision was made on Tuesday, just hours after more than 100 activists from areas which will be affected had gathered outside Shire Hall in Warwick to express their feelings towards the £17 billion project – which would plough a 250mph train link between London and Birmingham through the Warwickshire countryside.

Speaking on Wednesday John Lee, chairman of the Southam Action Group Against HS2, said: “It was a great result for Warwickshire and a triumph for common sense. To have a cross-party consensus was great and everybody was elated.

“Let us hope we can get the same level of understanding of the issue at national level.”

Peter Delow, the Cubbington group chairman, said he had feared the council would “stay on the fence forever” but added that the authority had done campaigners proud.

He also praised an amendment, put forward by Cllr John Whitehouse (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey), which has committed the council to working closely with action groups and other authorities along the route.

Graham Long, chairman of the Ladbroke group, said: “Working in tandem against HS2 is very important.

“It won’t be a long time between when the Government releases the information which will form the basis of the consultation and when the consultation starts.”

During the protest Dr Dan Mitchell, a Southam group member and an engineer, expressed concerns about the blight on properties along the planned route and made the point that HS2 is not needed as there is scope for increased capacity and faster train speeds on existing lines.

Rose Guiot, of Cubbington, said she feared HS2 would take away children’s opportunities to explore the green spaces around the village while Robert Shakespeare, who lives in the Woodloes estate, said he was against the Government spending billions of pounds on an unwanted project at a time when massive cuts are being made.

Campaigners believe the Government will release information about HS2 before Parliament closes this month. The consultation is due to start in February.

See this week’s Courier for more on HS2.