Letters: No business case for HS2 go-ahead

Aug 4 2011 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

OUR country needs a robust and transparent national transport strategy with clear objectives and outcomes to support economic growth, before individual proposals are considered. Unbelievably, no such strategy yet exists and the route being proposed for High

Speed Two (HS2), with a business case which at best is pitifully weak, has not been adequately thought through.

In the current economic conditions, with government cuts and austerity programmes, to proceed with a project of doubtful value with unproven benefit and squander £34billion is nothing short of a delinquent waste of our money.

Chiltern District Council has consistently objected to (HS2) and the manner in which the government is seeking to bring forward these proposals. HS2 will bring no economic benefits to Buckinghamshire and Chiltern District, yet our unique countryside, biodiversity, natural and cultural heritage assets will suffer irreparable damage as a result of the proposal. Furthermore, the vast majority of new jobs will be on the outskirts of London.

The public consultation by the Department for Transport is the only opportunity people have had to respond on the principle of the high-speed proposal. Subsequent public consultations will only be about detailed routing.

Together with 14 other local authorities up and down the line, known as the 51m alliance, we are sending in our response but I would urge you to consider the impact HS2 will have on both you and the nation.

COUNCILLOR NICK ROSE Leader of Chiltern District Council