HS2 campaigners take challenge to High Court

9:30am Tuesday 4th December 2012 in Countywide

CAMPAIGNERS fighting Government proposals to build a high-speed rail link that would cut through Oxfordshire have taken their case to the High Court.

The London-Birmingham link would cut across north-east Oxfordshire, near Finmere, close to the Northamptonshire border.

Five separate legal challenges to the Government’s £33bn HS2 project will be heard this week in the High Court, starting yesterday. The series of hearings will look at allegations the Government failed to consult properly and based its approval for the line on inadequate environmental information.

Conservative-controlled Cherwell District Council is among 18 local authorities that form the 51M group to challenge the plans.

Cherwell’s lead member for planning Michael Gibbard said: “Cherwell was one of the first authorities to oppose this colossal white elephant. It is unfortunate we have had to take this step, but we maintain that this scheme is fundamentally flawed.”

Mark Barton, of pressure group Village of Oxfordshire Opposed to HS2, which backs 51M’s action, said: “We want to have the consultation re-done so it conforms with the law, and we get proper proposals, a proper environmental impact assessment and proper consideration to all routes.”

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A Department for Transport spokesman said: “While it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific claims, the Government is confident that the decisions on HS2 have been taken lawfully and fairly and it is vigorously defending these legal challenges.”

A decision is expected in January.

Comments (10)

10:55am Tue 4 Dec 12

xjohnx says...

All those nimbys just bumping up the tax bills.
No wonder the government has been driven to legislate to cut the planning process short.
Net result of using planning processes just to make development too expensive, is that we have lost some of our freedom.
This country is dropping further behind in the world all the time due to continued improper use of the law.
All those nimbys just bumping up the tax bills. No wonder the government has been driven to legislate to cut the planning process short. Net result of using planning processes just to make development too expensive, is that we have lost some of our freedom. This country is dropping further behind in the world all the time due to continued improper use of the law. xjohnx

1:03pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Andrew:Oxford says...

If the 18 authorities can work in unison for this, then there is clear evidence that they are capable and prepared to work together on a more formal basis.

Could save an absolute fortune simply by merging 18 HR/Payroll, 18 Finance and 18 Refuse collection departments. Nothing that would affect the delivery of services at the customer facing level - just the cost of providing them.

It'll be great when HS2 is open, hopefully the bit outside of the London Banker, Lawyer & Accountant territory will progress more smoothly.
If the 18 authorities can work in unison for this, then there is clear evidence that they are capable and prepared to work together on a more formal basis. Could save an absolute fortune simply by merging 18 HR/Payroll, 18 Finance and 18 Refuse collection departments. Nothing that would affect the delivery of services at the customer facing level - just the cost of providing them. It'll be great when HS2 is open, hopefully the bit outside of the London Banker, Lawyer & Accountant territory will progress more smoothly. Andrew:Oxford

4:08pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Pavinder Msvarensy says...

There are some very strange people in this country. Japan has announced their sooper-dooper high speed railway to acclaim, and not a nimby in sight, what do Gibbard and his ilk want, a return to the dark ages?
There are some very strange people in this country. Japan has announced their sooper-dooper high speed railway to acclaim, and not a nimby in sight, what do Gibbard and his ilk want, a return to the dark ages? Pavinder Msvarensy

4:37pm Tue 4 Dec 12

EMBOX1 says...

No, I think people want a railway with a proper commercially viable business plan.

I am a massive railway fan - but HS2 has been shown to be a white elephant in waiting. We are FAR better using the money to upgrade and re-open many branchlines to help relieve mainline traffic.

HS2 is bonkers and a vanity project for politician. Just remember it is you and I who will be paying for this, for decades to come....as if we weren't already in enough debt!
No, I think people want a railway with a proper commercially viable business plan. I am a massive railway fan - but HS2 has been shown to be a white elephant in waiting. We are FAR better using the money to upgrade and re-open many branchlines to help relieve mainline traffic. HS2 is bonkers and a vanity project for politician. Just remember it is you and I who will be paying for this, for decades to come....as if we weren't already in enough debt! EMBOX1

6:39pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Andrew:Oxford says...

EMBOX1 wrote:
No, I think people want a railway with a proper commercially viable business plan.

I am a massive railway fan - but HS2 has been shown to be a white elephant in waiting. We are FAR better using the money to upgrade and re-open many branchlines to help relieve mainline traffic.

HS2 is bonkers and a vanity project for politician. Just remember it is you and I who will be paying for this, for decades to come....as if we weren't already in enough debt!
White elephant is good.

Statistics show that the vast majority of projects that are referred to by protestors as "white elephant" are successful.

If you're going to re-open all these branch-lines - you're going to need new core high-speed routes to alleviate overcrowding on the mainlines.
[quote][p][bold]EMBOX1[/bold] wrote: No, I think people want a railway with a proper commercially viable business plan. I am a massive railway fan - but HS2 has been shown to be a white elephant in waiting. We are FAR better using the money to upgrade and re-open many branchlines to help relieve mainline traffic. HS2 is bonkers and a vanity project for politician. Just remember it is you and I who will be paying for this, for decades to come....as if we weren't already in enough debt![/p][/quote]White elephant is good. Statistics show that the vast majority of projects that are referred to by protestors as "white elephant" are successful. If you're going to re-open all these branch-lines - you're going to need new core high-speed routes to alleviate overcrowding on the mainlines. Andrew:Oxford

6:52pm Tue 4 Dec 12

Pavinder Msvarensy says...

EMBOX1, look at the cost of Japan's railway, nobody is questioning it because it is progress,, they do not have little branch lines to villages with 30 people living there, they have high speed rail connecting major cities. HS2 will eventually connect the south to scotland if people like you do not cost us taxpayers more in legal costs than the project itself. I'll bet that your great grandfather was one of those insisting on the man with the red flag walking in front of a train many years ago, let go of the past, and embrace the future. By the way what do you think of Japan's version of HS2?
EMBOX1, look at the cost of Japan's railway, nobody is questioning it because it is progress,, they do not have little branch lines to villages with 30 people living there, they have high speed rail connecting major cities. HS2 will eventually connect the south to scotland if people like you do not cost us taxpayers more in legal costs than the project itself. I'll bet that your great grandfather was one of those insisting on the man with the red flag walking in front of a train many years ago, let go of the past, and embrace the future. By the way what do you think of Japan's version of HS2? Pavinder Msvarensy

1:47pm Wed 5 Dec 12

kingsnewclothes says...

Nice one Pavinder. The recent stories have been about Japanese maglev, HS2 would not use maglev.

Leaving aside the fact that Japan is roughly 3 times the size of England I wouldn't have said that "Japan's got high speed rail and it's progress" is a killer argument.

HS2 will cost the best part of £ 40 billion and if you bring scotland into the equation the cost will be a lot more than that.
Nice one Pavinder. The recent stories have been about Japanese maglev, HS2 would not use maglev. Leaving aside the fact that Japan is roughly 3 times the size of England I wouldn't have said that "Japan's got high speed rail and it's progress" is a killer argument. HS2 will cost the best part of £ 40 billion and if you bring scotland into the equation the cost will be a lot more than that. kingsnewclothes

1:49pm Wed 5 Dec 12

kingsnewclothes says...

xjohnx wrote:
All those nimbys just bumping up the tax bills.
No wonder the government has been driven to legislate to cut the planning process short.
Net result of using planning processes just to make development too expensive, is that we have lost some of our freedom.
This country is dropping further behind in the world all the time due to continued improper use of the law.
The legal costs incurred by those nasty nimbys are but a tiny fraction of the overall bill if the scheme goes ahead.
[quote][p][bold]xjohnx[/bold] wrote: All those nimbys just bumping up the tax bills. No wonder the government has been driven to legislate to cut the planning process short. Net result of using planning processes just to make development too expensive, is that we have lost some of our freedom. This country is dropping further behind in the world all the time due to continued improper use of the law.[/p][/quote]The legal costs incurred by those nasty nimbys are but a tiny fraction of the overall bill if the scheme goes ahead. kingsnewclothes

8:11pm Wed 5 Dec 12

Pavinder Msvarensy says...

Kingsnew clothes, I said Japan's VERSION, please read my post, We will never have a real MAGLEV service here because of the cost, (we spend our £billions bombing North Africa and The Middle East for some strange reason) although WE did have the first EVER MAGLEV in the world at Brum Airport in the early 80s I think. But if we are to truly connect all the UK with a decent rail service then HS2 is the starting point, and if it does not get built, then we are back to chuggers for the rest of my lifetime at least. P.S. You go on about the size of Japan, but none of their MAGLEV trains will connect cities further apart than HS2 will eventually, so a bit of a non-comment really. The Sooner Mr Cameron brings in the new Anti-NIMBY/EVERYTHIN
G law, the better.
Kingsnew clothes, I said Japan's VERSION, please read my post, We will never have a real MAGLEV service here because of the cost, (we spend our £billions bombing North Africa and The Middle East for some strange reason) although WE did have the first EVER MAGLEV in the world at Brum Airport in the early 80s I think. But if we are to truly connect all the UK with a decent rail service then HS2 is the starting point, and if it does not get built, then we are back to chuggers for the rest of my lifetime at least. P.S. You go on about the size of Japan, but none of their MAGLEV trains will connect cities further apart than HS2 will eventually, so a bit of a non-comment really. The Sooner Mr Cameron brings in the new Anti-NIMBY/EVERYTHIN G law, the better. Pavinder Msvarensy

10:36am Sun 9 Dec 12

Andrew:Oxford says...

kingsnewclothes wrote:
Nice one Pavinder. The recent stories have been about Japanese maglev, HS2 would not use maglev.

Leaving aside the fact that Japan is roughly 3 times the size of England I wouldn't have said that "Japan's got high speed rail and it's progress" is a killer argument.

HS2 will cost the best part of £ 40 billion and if you bring scotland into the equation the cost will be a lot more than that.
But we aren't just England KNC, we are part of Europe.

Europe is bigger than Japan...
[quote][p][bold]kingsnewclothes[/bold] wrote: Nice one Pavinder. The recent stories have been about Japanese maglev, HS2 would not use maglev. Leaving aside the fact that Japan is roughly 3 times the size of England I wouldn't have said that "Japan's got high speed rail and it's progress" is a killer argument. HS2 will cost the best part of £ 40 billion and if you bring scotland into the equation the cost will be a lot more than that.[/p][/quote]But we aren't just England KNC, we are part of Europe. Europe is bigger than Japan... Andrew:Oxford

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