HS2 plan breaches EU laws, appeal court told
Government plans to push ahead with the HS2 scheme have come under attack in the Court of Appeal.
Pressure group HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA) says environmental assessments should have been completed, while various councils including Lichfield are opposing the decision to give the line the green light.
Objectors estimate the bill for the project is £58 billion and rising, while official assessments have put the cost at £33bn.
Staffordshire Against HS2 campaigner Rolfe Pearce said: "We're hoping the government will be told it has to properly assess the environmental impact and pull together a cogent plan of action on behalf of the population. They have not stuck to their own laws or the rule of Europe and that is what we are challenging.
"No government scheme like this should lose hard-working people thousands of pounds and stop them from moving home."
Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson, Lord Justice Richards and Lord Justice Sullivan are hearing the case over four days this week. David Elvin QC, appearing for the objectors, argued that the project had already blighted properties and should be halted because of a breach of EU rules.
A Department for Transport spokesman said as the hearing started: "It is inevitable that opponents of HS2 will do whatever they can to delay the Government's plans, but the Government remains committed to delivering HS2 as quickly as possible."
Nine areas of legal challenge were previously brought to the High Court. Only one succeeded and concerned the way the property compensation consultation was carried out. The consultation is now being re-run.
The local authorities are accusing the Transport Secretary of proceeding with HS2 without producing an equality impact assessment, breaching his public sector equalities duty. Stafford Borough Council has agreed to join 18 other councils actively campaigning against HS2.
The hearing continues.
