Council shows unity in response to HS2 plans

Warwick district councillors voted unanimously to support the authority’s formal response to the HS2 consultation, in which the council has raised various objections to the proposed project.

The council, a lead member of the 51m group of the 14 authorities along the proposed route of the line, has already made budgetary provisions of £100,000 to oppose HS2.

Cllr Michael Coker (Con, Kenilworth Abbey) said: “This proposal irreparably damages many miles of Warwick district, it then destroys the green belt between Kenilworth and Coventry and devastates Burton Green.

“Although these would be disasters as far as the district is concerned it might have been put upon us to bypass those points had it been proven to us that nationally it would be important to reopen up our industry throughout the country.

“Therefore we have taken an entirely different view from the one originally which was ‘not in our back yard’ and have very consciously worked upon whether it’s a good thing for us all.

“What has been shown as a result of the investigation is that that has been shot to pieces not only by us but by other agencies and we have found if there is any business case at all it is an extremely fragile one and that it doesn’t open up the country it isolates the majority of it and that anywhere between here and Birmingham will see no benefit whatsoever.”

Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Crown) said he was concerned the council’s response to question six of the consultation, which is specific to the environmental impact on Warwick district, could be “lost in the noise” among its responses to earlier sections.

Council leader Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele), raised concerns about the loss of train services from Coventry and Nuneaton to London.

Cllr John Barrott (Lab, Leamington Willes) said he was worried the Government would not listen to consultation responses.

Cllr John Hammon (Con, Cubbington), who is responsible for development policy, said: “I think with Warwick District Council and 51m speaking against it they will have to listen.”

Officers will continue to monitor the progress of the HS2 programme and to work in partnership with the 51m group and other agencies to oppose HS2.

Cllr Hammon, Cllr Doody chief executive Chris Elliot and the council’s head of development services, were delegated the responsibility of confirming the authority’s support for the 51m consultation response.

The consultation finishes today (Friday) and a ministerial decision on whether to proceed with the HS2 proposal is expected to be announced in December.