Council disappointed as HS2 remains on track

HS2 remains on track - much to the disappointment of Warwickshire County Council.

It was among an alliance of 15 local authorities which appealed against the Department of Transport's planned high speed line, claiming proper environmental assessments had not been made, but it was rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Lord Justice Sullivan did however rule a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was vital to ensure environmental and sustainability issues were considered in the planning of the route.

County council HS2 spokesman Coun Bob Stevens said: “We are disappointed the Court Of Appeal has not been able to uphold our objections.

“However, I am pleased Lord Justice Sullivan, one of the country’s leading environmental planning judges, has recognised a Strategic Environmental Assessment is a key part of the process and should have been carried out.

“The comments in his judgement will make difficult reading for the Department for Transport and HS2 Limited.

“It will be interesting to see how the Government responds to this ruling. In the meantime we will carefully consider what our next steps will be on behalf of Warwickshire’s communities.”

The authorities have now asked for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the UK.

HS2 is currently expected to cost more than £42billion, running 250mph trains between London and Birmingham by 2026 and then branch out to Manchester and Leeds via Sheffield by 2032.

The closest it would get to the centre of Rugby is almost 13 miles away where its proposed route Fosse Way at Offchurch which is four miles to the borough's boundary near Marton.

But there are concerns over the impact it will have on services on the West Coast Mainline which runs through the town's railway station.

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