Council rejects HS2 plea from 5,000 people saying 'it will go ahead'

Campaigners want Staffordshire County Council to become part of 51M - a group of 19 local authorities that have united to oppose the £50 billion high speed rail project.

But the authority yesterday rejected the idea - admitting that HS2 'will go ahead' and that the council should concentrate on fighting blight and securing compensation for residents rather than trying to fight the entire project.

Council bosses are also worried that the authority would have to pay a share of legal costs that are hanging over members of 51M after losing High Court cases against the Government.

Infrastructure boss councillor Mark Winnington said: "I applaud the campaigners for the efforts and we, like them, are vehemently against HS2.

"In terms of 51M I think we have got to realise that as a county council we have discussed this option and come to a democratic decision as to the way we handle HS2. This is fighting for mitigation, compensation, lobbing hard and making sure it is a fair deal for the people affected.

"I was in the House of Commons on the night MPs overwhelming backed the Bill and we have to accept HS2 will happen."

He said the council had already committed £200,000 to spend on officially petitioning the legislation which is likely to see the authority appear before MPs and suggest changes.

He added: "We think this is a better use of taxpayers' money because it is spent in Staffordshire for Staffordshire instead of supporting other councils up and down the country."

Stafford Borough Council and Lichfield District Council are already members of 51M - but Mr Winnington said lawyers had advised the county council they could be liable for any costs from failed judicial reviews totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Councillor Frank Chapman, a Tory councillor on both the county council and borough council said: "I am also a member of the borough council and we had advice from lawyers that we would not be liable for any costs, so we signed up to 51M.

"In this case the advice is different, I guess that is what happens when you get two lawyers in the same room.

"Either way, things have moved on and the HS2 Bill is being backed by MPs so we need to concentrate on getting the best deal for Staffordshire so I can not support signing up to 51M."

But Ukip councillor Derrick Huckfield supported calls to join the group.

"It is the old saying, united we stand, divided we fall. The more councils that join the better the chance of stopping HS2," he said.

"Five thousand people are asking us to support them."

Conservative and Labour councillors both decided to reject joining 51M with the Ukip councillors in favour.

Council leader Philip Atkins said: "I understand the heart-felt emotions that residents feel.

"A lot of people think they will not be affected. I know people living three or four miles away who are have put their homes up for sale and are having HS2 come up in the particulars because of the lorries that will be using the roads nearby.

"People have had to put their lives on hold and that is not right."

Campaigners from Marston Against HS2 collected the signatures over the past few months.

Chairman Bob Gasch said: "In these times of austerity with a lack of funding for councils and the NHS we feel the £50 billion cost in 2011 prices could be better spent on upgrading existing infrastructure and services and being prosperity much sooner. We urge Staffordshire County Council to join Stafford Borough Council and Lichfield District Council and other councils to join.

"There is no fee but 51M has the numbers to lobby parliament."