Leader backing call over high speed rail link

The leader of Lichfield District Council is backing calls for the Government's Transport Secretary to meet authorities which would be affected by the proposed high speed rail route from London to the West Midlands.

Councillor Mike Wilcox said he was keen to quiz Philip Hammond over the proposed HS2 line before the council decided on its official stance. "We need to know exactly what is being planned and where the money is going to come from," he added.

He has joined nine other council leaders, headed by Councillor Andy Farnell, the leader of Warwickshire County Council, in asking for the meeting to discuss the impact the 250mph route would have on the areas it would pass through.

The HS2 line, estimated to cost £60 billion, was originally proposed by the previous Labour Government to link London with the Midlands and Manchester. It is believed that the coalition administration intends to continue with the project.

Councillor Wilcox said if the meeting went ahead he would brief his Conservative group and the rest of the council on the scheme which has led to a wave of opposition from parish council and other groups in Lichfield district.

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has also expressed concern about the damage the route would cause to the countryside in his constituency. He is to attend a public meeting which has been called by the Lichfield Action Group on October 1.

Conservative county councillor Matthew Ellis has also raised doubts about the economic reasoning behind the line.

The route would impact on Hints, Weeford, Swinfen and Packington with double-decker trains speeding along the line at rates of up to one every eight minutes.