Lichfield’s MP has urged the Government’s Transport Secretary to “think again” over the proposals for high speed rail.
Michael Fabricant was among a group of 20 MPs, including Tamworth’s Christopher Pincher, for the meeting with Justine Greening today (November 21).
Politicians from across both sides of the House of Commons met the new Transport Secretary to discuss plans for HS2.
If built the route would take high speed trains through parts of Lichfield and the surrounding villages – and Mr Fabricant had already urged Ms Greening’s predecessor Philip Hammond to reconsider the scheme.
“I urged the minister to think again and consider the original high speed route proposed by Arup, the consulting engineers, which would have used the M40 corridor,” he said.
“My colleague, Jeremy Wright, also reiterated the point that I have made many times in the past that compensation should be generous to those living along the proposed route of HS2.”
The meeting came as the Government prepares to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the project.
Mr Fabricant had written to Mr Hammond to express his concerns over the scheme and is hoping the new Transport Secretary will act on the issues he has raised.
“I referred her to my letter which I wrote to the Secretary of State following the Transport Committee’s report on HS2” he explained. “In particular, I asked that no decision be made to proceed with HS2 until the full ‘Y’ route from London to Manchester and Leeds is published.
“I also questioned why it is necessary to run trains at 250mph which has been shown to be unreliable in continental Europe rather than at normal high speed rates of around 180mph. These trains would be both quieter and more able to follow existing transport corridors such as motorways.
“I added that as Conservatives, we should be conserving the environment and not running trains through virgin countryside.”
