Anti-HS2 campaigners head to Westminster
A delegation of anti-HS2 campaigners from Staffordshire are to take their fight to Westminster, it has emerged.
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant and half a dozen opponents of the £33bn scheme will meet with Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, HS2 technical director Andrew McNaughton as well as engineers and senior civil servants to discuss the plans on July 1.
Mr Fabricant, who this week surprisingly revealed he will vote in favour of a HS2 bill in the Commons next week despite opposing the scheme, hopes to persuade the Government to change its route.
Failing that he hopes ex-Cannock miner McLoughlin will agree to more cash being made available to tackle blight in his constituency, including tunnelling.
He said: "I hoping to get a commitment that funding will be available for mitigation, especially as the current one includes a huge viaduct that runs over the A38."
Mr Fabricant said Lichfield felt like it was 'piggy in the middle'.
More than 40 MPs are expected to rebel against the HS2 'paving' bill next week which will release cash for consultancy and design works and compensation.
Opponents have criticised the 'paving' bill saying it releases a bottomless pit of cash.
Mr Fabricant added: "As I have said before, I will not support the main Bill when it is published later this year and if we cannot get the route changed in the committee stage of the Bill, I will vote against the legislation.
"I will be pressing the Government to change the route to use an existing transport corridor, such as a motorway, to minimise the environmental impact and stop the line plunging through unblemished southern Staffordshire countryside altogether."
