Date set for HS2 legal challenges

By Kevin Unitt 02/08 Updated: 02/08 07:49

A DATE has been set in the High Court to hear legal challenges to the HS2 project.

A total of five cases against the £33 billion high-speed rail scheme will be heard together, over a seven-day period, from December 3.

Local authorities Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council are among those to launch legal cases against the plan – which would see a new line built from London to Birmingham, cutting through swathes of the Warwickshire countryside.

The announcement comes as anti-HS2 campaigners in the area spoke out over errors in the consultation process.

It is understood more than 400 official responses went missing, among them one from Joe Rukin, Stop HS2 Campaign coordinator and Kenilworth resident.

He said: “After having read the so-called analysis of the missing 413 consultation responses, I quickly realised that I have been ignored twice. First because my response was ignored originally and now because they clearly didn’t analyse my response.”

The cases in the High Court in December will be heard together and a decision on each case given after all five have been heard.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, will also be required to explain errors within consultation.

Coun Michael Doody, leader of Warwick District Council said, “We are delighted that the judge has decided to review this case, in respect to the HS2 project which has no credible business plan and is a waste of Taxpayer’s money."

Council development chief, coun John Hammon, added: "It is with reluctance that that we have had to take this case to the law, in respect to removing once and for all the blight which is affecting so many people’s lives.”