AVDC tells Boris to scrap HS2

The Government review of HS2 has prompted Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) to explain its opposition to the scheme to the Prime Minister.

The council says HS2 is already causing environmental damage to its district and wants enabling works stopped while the review takes place.

AVDC leader Cllr Angela Macpherson has written to both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps explaining the council’s opposition to the project.

In her letter Cllr Macpherson said: “Buckinghamshire and Aylesbury Vale residents and communities have campaigned tirelessly for many years for government to rethink this project, which in our view has a fundamentally flawed business case, no gain to our communities, residents and businesses, and will cause long term, irreversible damage to our environment and wildlife.”

Her letter also highlights the increase in the estimates for what the scheme will cost, initially £56 billion but now more than £80 bn.

DevComms director Charles Bushe puts the issue of HS2 into local and national perspective.