HS2 Second Reading – Comment from Cllr Steve Bowles

Cllr Bowles states:

“I have supported David Lidington’s stance on HS2 since the route was announced as I believed as a minister he was best placed to argue his constituents case for better compensation and mitigation. Through his position he has been able to gain direct access to the key decision makers in Government and HS2 to lobby and argue his constituents case.

“David Lidington is an excellent MP for this constituency but as Councillors for Wendover and Halton both Peter Strachan and I are disappointed that he did not vote against this Bill which establishes the principle of HS2 as the vast majority of his constituents in Wendover, Halton, Stoke Mandeville and Aylesbury would have wished. I have conveyed this to David Lidington who assures me that if a fully bored tunnel and other mitigation measures are not forthcoming he will resign before the third reading of the Bill.

“As Chairman of the Aylesbury Conservatives I and the Association will continue to fight HS2 on behalf of local people by lobbying the coalition government, working with community groups and by both speaking out against this proposal and fighting for better mitigation.”