Buckinghamshire councillors slam High Speed 2 plan (From This Is Local London)

Buckinghamshire councillors slam High Speed 2 plan

3:30pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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'IRREPARABLE' damage will be caused to the Buckinghamshire countryside if plans for a 250mph railway line are given the go-ahead.

Thursday's announcement the planned High Speed 2 route will cut through the Chilterns countryside has sparked outrage among residents and environmental groups (see links, bottom of story).

And councillors from Buckinghamshire County Council and Chiltern District Council today added their voices to the debate.

They said taking the route through Milton Keynes would be more beneficial as it would help create new jobs in the north of the county.

Buckinghamshire County Council's cabinet member for planning and environment, Martin Tett, said: “Whilst we understand the national economic importance of HS2 and of speeding up the link between London and Birmingham, we feel that the irreparable damage to our unique environment and in particular the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is too high a price to pay.

“The County Council, along with our District colleagues will continue to fight this decision on behalf of our beautiful county and its residents.”

The council's cabinet member for transport, Valerie Letheren, said: “Better and more economically beneficial routes are available and we have met with the Minister [Lord Adonis] to put forward a strong case for the route to follow the current West Coast Mainline.

“This route is supported not only by all Buckinghamshire councils, but also by Milton Keynes and the neighbouring authorities.

“It is very disappointing that the Government has chosen to ignore the unanimous views of the local authorities involved.”

Chiltern District Council's cabinet member for transport, Nick Rose, said: “We will continue to fight this decision on behalf of our beautiful district and our residents.”

Meanwhile, a Parliamentary candidate said today he would vote against the proposals if he were elected as an MP.

Lib Dem Tim Starkey, who is standing in the Amersham and Chesham constituency, said he was “against the plans”, which would see a tunnel built underneath Chalfont St Giles and Old Amersham.

He said: “If elected MP for Chesham and Amersham I would vote against it. The construction and operation of the line will have a severe environmental impact on the Misbourne Valley, part of The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is the only such designated area between London and Birmingham and could have been avoided.

“I am also alarmed by Conservative plans to move 'faster and further' with high speed rail, with a two year earlier starting date for construction. In practice, this means less consultation.

“In the recent Conservative Planning Green Paper (“Open Source Planning”) High Speed Rail was explicitly cited as an example of where national legislation could provide a fast track process, overriding local concerns. I believe that any consultation must be meaningful and genuine.”

A public consultation is due to be carried out following Thursday's announcement.