Campaigners fighting against plans for a high speed rail line are anxiously awaiting the judgement on a series of Judicial Reviews.
Mr Justice Ouseley has overseen five challenges to the HS2 project and will deliver his verdict on them on Friday (March 15) at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Among the areas being challenged are an inadequate consultation, failure to assess the impact on communities and an assessment of alternatives which was not thorough enough.
Penny Gaines, chair of the Stop HS2 group, is hoping the judgement will force the Government to go back to the drawing board on the line – which would cut through parts of Lichfield and the surrounding villages.
“It’s clear there have been fundamental mistakes in the process so far,” she said. “These include losing over 1,000 consultation responses, including the Stop HS2 campaign manager’s personal response.
“It’s time [Transport Secretary] Patrick McLoughlin faced facts and cancelled HS2 in its entirety.”
However, Mr McLoughlin claimed HS2 is crucial to the future of the country.
Speaking after the announcement of the route for phase two of the line, he said: “One knows that you’re going to upset a number of people because the route will go through their area, and that will be annoying for them and you’ll get opposition to it.
“But, overall, one has got to look at the long-term chances for the United Kingdom.”
