STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has voted to formally oppose the development of the £17bn High Speed rail link.
Councillors said the business case for the new link was flawed and would bring no direct benefit to the county.
The move is at odds with many in the business community who favour the scheme because of the economic benefits it will bring to the region.
Proposals currently out for public consultation involve the development of the high speed network (HS2) between London and Birmingham.
The second stage of the scheme (HS3) would see the track divide after Birmingham with new spurs heading to Manchester and Leeds. This latter phase would cut directly through Staffordshire.
Following a full council debate, the authority opted to register its disapproval of the scheme on the grounds that:
• The business case is flawed • There is no economic benefit for Staffordshire and it would actually damage the county’s economy • It would cause significant environmental damage • Investment should be made in improving affordable rail and road transport
County council leader Philip Atkins said there had been a constructive debate, with the majority sharing the view that HS2 would have a detrimental impact on the local economy and environment.
“The clear consensus from county councillors was to oppose the proposals,” he said.
“There are serious concerns about the devastating environmental impact and the potential harm to our economy. Many people don’t realise that existing mainline train services from our county would suffer.
“This is an important issue for all Staffordshire residents. While the HS2 line ends in the south of the county, the HS3 line would cut through the rest to the north through the Trent Valley.”
The council has called for a national debate on the transport issue and the need to improve infrastructure for the benefit of the entire economy.
The Government’s public consultation on HS2 started last month and continues until July.
