A CAMPAIGNER spearheading the fight against High Speed 2 declared she would not be 'gagged', following a protest in Wendover this morning.

BBC film crews were on hand as up to 300 protesters vented their anger about the plans which they fear will wreck Buckinghamshire's countryside.

Lizzy Williams, chairman of national action group Stop HS2, told the Free Press she was in tears listening to confirmation of the planned route in the House of Commons yesterday.

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“It was the attitude of the Ministers, grinning and congratulating one another on something that will destroy people’s lives and already has.

"I find that completely callous and unacceptable.”

In September Ms Williams walked the entire length of the multi-billion pound proposed route.

She was delighted with the turnout of around 200 to 300 protesters out in Wendover today.

“It went extremely well, the best coup of it was getting (BBC show) Countryfile and John Craven along,” she said.

Ms Williams said:“It was a real community event to demonstrate the strength of feeling against it and highlight the noise pollution.

“It should not be a priority investment for the country when people are facing hundreds of thousands of job cuts.”

She argued there were better options for the environment and the economy and lambasted the Government, saying:“How dare you squander taxpayers in this way when it's not something we want?”

She added: “We will not be gagged.”

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond announced changes to the original plans such as using so-called 'green bridges' between Amersham and Wendover in a bid to reduce the visual impact on the countryside.

A tunnel 150 metres long will also be constructed on the section between Amersham and Little Missenden.

He added the amended plans would also “reduce severance of public rights of way” in the AONB.

But Ms Williams said the changes to the route to appease opponents were “unacceptable”.

Stop HS2 has been speaking to campaigners who successfully opposed the expansion of Heathrow airport.

The next stage of the campaign will be to encourage residents around the country to get involved in the public consultation and a shadow national road show will “provide the other side of the story”.

Ms Williams said: “People are being told there are economic benefits but these are based on flawed proposals, ridiculous passenger forecasts which are not proven and there's no evidence to substantiate them.”

Mr Hammond said a consultation over the plans will be launched in the New Year, which will be the “biggest and most wide-ranging ever taken” by Parliament.

Compensation will be given to those whose homes have to be destroyed to create the line and also for those whose homes were set to lose value, he said.

He argued the scheme would help tackle the north-south divide by slashing travelling times to and from the capital.