Claims Owen Paterson could be the man to stop HS2 plan
Fresh doubts were today cast over HS2 with a senior Tory minister said to be questioning the £42.6 billion project. Sources close to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the Shropshire MP had concerns over the environmental impact of the 351-mile track.
Privately it is said Mr Paterson has vowed to 'kill' the project and will lead a cabinet revolt with another Tory minister. A well-placed Tory insider said: "Owen's view is that he will subject it to such tough environmental tests that he will kill off the whole thing. He does not like HS2."
The huge project is expected to destroy 135 acres of ancient woodland – sparking promises from ministers last week that soil from the woods would be transplanted to new sites.
In addition to Mr Paterson a second Tory cabinet minister has privately sounded the alarm over the enormous bill for the scheme, which has already risen by nearly £10bn since original estimates.
The minister told friends: "When we're trying to cut public spending and make ends meet, HS2 doesn't add up. If we are going to spend billions of pounds on rail infrastructure, surely it should be on improving existing lines."
Opposition to the huge infrastructure project has grown despite MPs passing a bill in parliament which will pave the way for the scheme.
The project is set to cut through swathes of Staffordshire countryside with homeowners living up and down the line opposed.
Campaigners say their homes will be blighted by the scheme. Compensation was rejected in 75 per cent of cases for homeowners living along the first part of the route from London to Birmingham. Staffordshire MPs Jermey Lefroy, Bill Cash and Michael Fabricant all oppose the project.
The Victorian clubhouse at Whittington Heath Golf Club is earmarked for demolition with the trains going through a minimum of eight holes of the 127-year-old course. Before the site became a golf course it was home to Lichfield racecourse. It hosted meets since 1702 and by the middle of the century was the only racecourse in Staffordshire.
Ingestre Golf Course is also set to be sliced in half with seven of the 18 holes affected. Nearly 150 acres of rare heathland will be torn up next door to the club at Whittington Barracks and 129 acres of ancient woodland around Lichfield affected.
