MEP welcomes Warwick County Council's stance over HS2

Thursday, December 16 2010

Warwick County Council is the latest local authority to confirm its formal opposition to the envisaged High Speed Rail 2 scheme.

Councillors met earlier this week to debate the controversial project as more than 100 campaigners braved the cold weather to stage a major protest outside Shire Hall in Market Square.

Following the debate Warwick County Council revealed it would formally oppose HS2.

Coventry City Council has already voted unanimously in favour to oppose the HS2 plans and Staffordshire County Council has criticised the scheme saying the proposals do not stack up.

The move has been warmly welcomed by the campaign group Stop HS2 and UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass who has written to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond in an effort to force a Government rethink over the plans.

In his letter, Mr Nattrass, who is a member of the EU's Transport and Tourism Committee, stated: “This (HS2) is an EU driven project as part of the overall expansion of the European high speed transport network, and one for which funding is being increased at a time of austerity in other aspects of the public sector.

“HS2 is not a viable proposition for this country. Any currently proposed route will have a very negative impact on local communities in the West Midlands and in Staffordshire and does not appear to provide the people living there with any tangible benefits."

Commenting on the success of the demonstration in Warwick, Joe Rukin, from the campaign group Stop HS2, said: “The protest was very well attended.

“We are pleased Warwick County Council voted overwhelmingly to oppose HS2.”