An MP has called for an “thorough inquiry” into the business case behind the proposed high-speed rail line which would cut through a number of villages surrounding Lichfield.
Areas such as Hints and Whittington are set to be hit after the Government confirmed a preferred route for the HS2 line in December.
And now Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher has joined Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant in writing to the chairman of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP, urging them to look again at the necessity of the line.
Mr Pincher said:
“We need a full and detailed inquiry into this proposal and I hope that the Transport Select Committee will undertake one. I have serious concerns about the business case for HS2 which right now I just do not think stacks up. I have also written to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee asking her if she will also look at the proposals to see if they offer value for money for the tax payer.
“Last year I helped organise a lobby of parliament for anti HS2 campaigners – but HS2 refused to attend. If the Select Committee holds an inquiry, they will not be able to say no. It will allow them to be robustly questioned about their assumptions.”
The controversial project will soon go out to public consultation, the results of which will be passed to Secretary of State Philip Hammond in July. He will then make a final decision on his preferred route – or whether to make changes including scrapping the entire project – before the end of the year.
