Protesters told HS2 will be a ‘£20 billion boost’

A public interest debate was held to consider the merits of the proposed HS2 project as part of a Warwick District Council meeting at Leamington town hall on Wednesday.

All but a handful of councillors voted to express their opposition to the Government’s plans, which would create a route for 250mph trains to travel from London to Birmingham and further north.

Speaking in favour of the proposals David Bull, assistant director of development strategy for Birmingham City Council, said: “Many people on the line of HS2 will be affected by the impact and I acknowledge that.

“But the benefits far outweigh the disbenefits.

“Both this Government and the last Government have been consistent in coming forward with HS2.

“We are planning for the future and planning for investment.”

Mr Bull listed a number of predicted benefits connected to HS2, including increasing passenger capacity for the country’s rail infrastructure and reducing Co2 emissions by transferring passengers from cars and planes to trains.

He said the project would create 40,000 new jobs nationally and 8,000 in the West Midlands and that the total economic benefit would be £20 billion.

In response Joe Rukin, an anti-HS2 protester, said: “The idea of HS2 seemed great, the problem began when I got past all the rhetoric and read the actual plans.

“There is quite clearly no business case, no environmental case and no money to pay for it.

“Is this really going to transform our economy? HS2 is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem.”

Jerry Marshall, chairman of Action Groups Against HS2, questioned the benefits of the project, suggesting jobs would simply be shifted around.

He added: “Do we invest for the rich few or the many long-suffering rail travellers in the UK?”

Engineer Chris Begg said HS2 would help alleviate environmental problems for future generations and provide efficient links between “super cities” in years to come.

Raising concerns that the vibrations caused by HS2 could damage the foundations of historical sites such as Warwick Castle, Cllr Elizabeth Higgins (Con, Warwick West) said: “It’s Ash Wednesday, so we should burn these plans and tell Philip Hammond where to get to.”