A new poll has revealed support for HS2 has reached an all-time low.
The controversial high speed rail scheme, which will run through Lichfield and parts of the surrounding villages, is now backed by just 22 per cent of people, according to the new survey by ComRes.
Opponents say this drop from 42 per cent in January 2012 shows a waning belief in the project.
Penny Gaines, Chair of Stop HS2 said: “There are fewer and fewer people who think HS2 is a good idea, with under a quarter of the public saying they are for it.
“With groups ranging from the Institute of Directors to the Woodland Trust saying that HS2 is the wrong project, the Government really should be listening. Unfortunately, they seem to have stuck their fingers in their ears, so opponents of HS2 need to be even more vocal in opposing the proposed railway.”
Despite the new polls, only two political parties – UKIP and the Greens – have come out against the project.
Rupert Read, Green Party Spokesperson for Transport, said: “HS2 is a high-carbon high-expense vanity project.
“It’s extremely encouraging to see that the public are seeing through the relentless propaganda put out by special interest groups who back the flawed scheme.
“We would take the money earmarked by HS2 and use it to revolutionise our entire transport network: investing in local infrastructure and joining up communities that have become isolated by decades of cuts in public transport spending.
UKIP Transport spokesman Jill Seymour said the latest opinion polls provided stronger evidence than ever that it should be abandoned.
Mrs Seymour, MEP for the West Midlands, said: “It is clear that the overwhelming majority of the public are on our side. It is not good value for money and it will divert already scarce public funds away from other investment that is much more urgently needed to improve our transport and communications infrastructure.”
“The case for HS2 is flawed in all respects. Its estimated cost is already £50 billion, but that figure is rising all the time. And this is money that the UK simply cannot afford to be spending.”
The mainstream political parties are now being urged to shunt the multi-billion project into the sidings.
Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said: “It is amazing that politicians from the main parties think that HS2 is a vote winner, when every poll has made it clear that the public have not been bought by the spin about it.
“This latest poll shows that despite all the spin and political bluster trying to drum up support for HS2, its support for HS2 keeps on dropping, and is now in the basement.
“The fact the politicians fly in the face of public opinion by pushing HS2 forward is just another demonstration of how out of touch they are.
“With more austerity promised by most of those standing in the election, how can they possibly think people want HS2? The whole concept does not compute with voters and there are surely votes to be won by those parties saying they will cancel HS2.
“HS2 is a £50 billion white elephant. The economic case uses outdated assumptions about business travel, and building it will be hugely environmentally damaging. The case for HS2 collapsed years ago, but the Department for Transport seem determined to push forward none the less.
“We call on all Parliamentary candidates to look closely at the plans, and for the incoming Government to cancel it as soon as possible.”
