Bucks blueprint highlights county's HS2 mitigation needs (From Bucks Free Press)

Bucks blueprint highlights county's HS2 mitigation needs

7:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Andy Carswell

A BLUEPRINT highlighting what Buckinghamshire needs if the controversial HS2 line is built was handed over to the Transport Secretary by one of the county's MPs this week.

Buckinghamshire's Mitigation Blueprint - put together by anti-HS2 campaigners from the county - was handed to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin by Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan in the House of Commons.

During the handover Mrs Gillan highlighted to the Transport Secretary the serious impact the project will have on the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the need for a constructive approach to environmental protection.

She said: "It is the Buckinghamshire mitigation plan, which has been painstakingly produced and endorsed by all our councils in Buckinghamshire, our business leaders and environmental organisations, and it is intended to form the basis of a constructive and positive outlook for HS2.”

Mrs Gillan then asked Mr McLoughlin and Railways Minster Simon Burns if they would "undertake to consider carefully" the document.

Mr McLoughlin replied: “I will study the document she has given to me and ask for it to be studied by officials in my Department. We will do all we can to minimise damage in her area.”

Campaigners have called for more of the line through the Chilterns to be built through tunnels to minimise the visual impact it would have on the AONB.

The Blueprint is due to be officially launched in the county at a Bucks HS2 summit at the Oculus building in Aylesbury tomorrow.