Both sides claim victory in HS2 challenge

THE High Court has ruled that the consultation on compensation proposals for those affected by the HS2 high speed rail scheme was unlawful, but it has dismissed most of the points brought by campaigners.

The government said the ruling gave it the green light to press ahead.

The court had been presented with a series of legal challenges over the consultation process, in particular that the outcome is flawed because the Government lost hundreds of comment papers during the deliberation period.

Five judicial reviews were brought in total by four protest groups. Included in these are protests from several councils, including Warwickshire, which are opposed to the environmental damage they say the railway will inflict on their areas.

The high-speed rail minister Simon Burns said: “This is a major, landmark victory for HS2 and the future of Britain. The judge has categorically given the green light for the government to press ahead without delay in building a high-speed railway.

“HS2 is the most significant infrastructure investment the UK has seen in modern times and a project the country cannot afford to do without. The judgment ensures that nothing now stands in the way of taking our plans to parliament.

“We will now move forward as planned with the crucial business of getting the scheme ready for construction in 2017 and delivering enormous benefits for the country.”

Campaigners also claimed victory and the judgement may improve compensation arrangements for those living close to the proposed route.

The first phase of the £33bn investment will link London to Birmingham. Construction will then start on spurs to Manchester and Leeds. It will reduce journey times from Manchester to London by an hour, to one hour eight minutes and Manchester to Birmingham to 41 minutes.