This week, two more councils have joined the 51M group of councils opposed to HS2, bringing the total members to 17.
Yesterday, Three Rivers District Council, in Hertfordshire, joined 51M.
Martin Trevett, Three Rivers District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “The Council has been liaising closely with the 51m consortium of local authorities along the route and wishes to express its support for the consortium’s representations and concerns. In particular this Council takes the view that the business case for the new rail link has not been demonstrated either for the main route or for the Heathrow Link.
“It is this Council’s view that the business case must be demonstrated and made available to consultees for further evaluation before a decision is made on whether or not to proceed with the rail link.”
Earlier this week Oxfordshire County Council also joined the group.
Martin Tett, leader of Buckinghamshire County Council and chairman of 51m said: “I’m delighted that Oxfordshire has joined the growing ranks of local authorities who have reviewed, challenged and now oppose this immensely expensive scheme.
“This is a challenging time for this country economically and socially. To spend so much on a project where it is now generally accepted to have a very dubious business case, not be green and do little to heal the north /south divide is crazy.”
The 51M group is made up of councils opposed to HS2. The name comes from the cost of HS2 to the whole country: at £32 billion HS2 will cost the taxpayer £51 million per constituency.
I am very pleased that these councils have joined the 51m group. Hammond & co can’t just dismiss them as nimby objectors. They give power and credibility to the economic arguments against HS2.