Campaigners in Lichfield have welcomed the news that the Government is to face two legal challenges over its decision to go ahead with HS2.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening has been urged to reverse the decision to give the high speed rail link the green light or face the prospect of a judicial review.
The warning comes from 51m, a campaign composed of 18 local authorities opposed to HS2, including Lichfield District Council, and HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA), a national collective representing over 70 local community groups.
A spokesman for Whittington and Lichfield District Stop HS2 Action Group said: “We totally agree with the reasons given by 51m and HS2AA for taking this action.
“As 51m said, ‘the consultation process was unfair and inadequate in many respects’. HS2AA’s grounds for the legal challenge are the failure of the Department for Transport to comply with the legally binding requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Regulations 2004 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.
“The SEA Regulations require a full strategic environmental assessment of any important infrastructure project and an assessment of all alternatives to be completed before any proposals are presented for public consultation. The Government has failed to do this with HS2.”
The WLDStopHS2 spokesman claimed it would make sense for Justine Greening to “pull the plug now on the project” and concentrate finances towards improving the existing transport network.
“Miss Greening and her predecessor Philip Hammond have both demonstrated breath-taking hypocrisy in opposing a third runway at Heathrow because of the environmental impact on their constituents, then accusing HS2 opponents of self-interest,” he added. “Miss Greening was also adamant that Governments should take notice of public consultations, but in this case she is ignoring a consultation which produced an overwhelming response against HS2.
“Recent changes to the route, while producing improvements for the Chilterns in an effort to appease dissenting Tory MPs, actually produced a worse scenario for the Lichfield district, with a viaduct from Cappers Lane to the Trent and Mersey canal being substantially raised.
“We will continue to oppose this white elephant, and we call on everyone in Lichfield and the surrounding villages to join with us in our campaign.
“Please get in touch to find out ways you can help. Full details are available on our website.”
