Lichfield’s MP has made a fresh call for a rethink on the controversial HS2 scheme in the wake of a new report on the possible location of a new airport runway in the south-east.
Michael Fabricant’s comments come on the back of Sir Howard Davies’ study into air traffic capacity in the south-east.
And he insisted that the future of the UK’s transport infrastructure needed to be considered as a whole.
“It makes no sense to construct HS2 if it doesn’t directly link with wherever will be London’s main airport,” Mr Fabricant said. “The route of HS2 is flawed – even some senior executives at HS2 now admit this.
“It is several billion pounds more expensive than it need be and it could be less environmentally damaging by using existing transport corridors now that it will no longer run at ultra high speeds. Yet the Government blindly presses on regardless.”
However, his suggestion met a brick wall in the shape of Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin who said the Government was “committed to that route”.
