HS2 legal challenge comes off the tracks
Campaigners against HS2 have lost their latest challenge to the controversial high-speed rail scheme – but this afternoon have vowed to continue their fight.
The Court of Appeal rejected challenges by 15 councils and many other objectors, who had asked judges to order further assessment of the scheme.
Judges dismissed all grounds of the challenge but gave the green light for a final appeal to the Supreme Court.Fears have been raised the rail line could result in a reduction in the number of train services running through Wolverhampton and the Black Country.
Tony Collins, the chief executive of Virgin Trains, has already voiced 'serious concerns' over HS2. Objectors also say it will cost far too much to get HS2, as currently envisaged, up and running from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The official all-contingency cost has climbed from £33 billion to £42.6 billion.
High Speed rail minister Simon Burns today said: "By dismissing all seven grounds of appeal and declining to refer the case to Europe, this is the second time in four months a court has rejected attempts to derail HS2.
"I urge opponents not to waste any more taxpayers' money on expensive litigation and instead work with us on making HS2 the very best it can be.
"We continue to move forward with the crucial business of getting the scheme ready for construction in 2017."
But objectors today remained defiant and welcomed news objectors have been given permission to bring a further appeal to the highest court in the land, despite all of the appeals having to be funded by individuals and action groups.
Hilary Wharf, director of HS2 Action Alliance, said: "We are confident that, at the end of the day, the Government are going to have to do a strategic environmental assessment and take their environmental obligations seriously."
Former Labour Cabinet minister Lord Mandelson, ex-chancellor and former transport secretary Alistair Darling, and ITV chairman and former Tory MP Archie Norman have also cast doubt on the scheme. But David Cameron said it was 'essential' if Britain was to be a winner in the global race.
Phase one will pass through Whittington near Lichfield, while phase two will cut through countryside near to Stafford.