AN MP from one of the cities set to gain from a new high speed rail link spoke out against the impact it would have on Bucks when it was discussed in Parliament for the first time.

Roger Godsiff, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green, said the planned HS2 scheme would be "a disaster" and had "not been thought through" during a debate in the House of Commons.

Those advocating the building of the line say Birmingham will receive an economic shot in the arm but Mr Godsiff said the business case was a "fallacy" - adding his concerns at the impact it would have on the Chilterns, which would be built through if the scheme is given the go-ahead.

He told the House: "It is said that it will help to diminish regional inequalities and promote growth, but there is no evidence of that. This project is not good value for money, and it has not been thought through.

"Not one business person has come to me and said, 'Thirty minutes is going to make the difference between my company succeeding or not'. It is a fallacy to believe otherwise.

"People have expressed a great deal of concern about the damage that this will cause in the Chilterns and Warwickshire. The impression has been given that only people who live there are concerned about those areas. In fact, many people living in Birmingham travel to the countryside, especially elderly people in my constituency who have enjoyed the benefits of the free or concessionary fares introduced by the Labour Government. They enjoy the countryside; they are certainly not part of the 'carpet the countryside with concrete' brigade, and neither am I.

"We have had many vanity projects in this country that have been a disaster. I hope the Minister will think again about this project, because I believe that if she goes ahead, it will be a disaster."

Other MPs lined up to criticise the multi billion pound project.

Dr Julian Lewis, member of New Forest East, said: "At a time when we in constituencies that are not directly affected by this railway project are nevertheless having to fight, for example, to save hospitals from closure due to cuts, it seems sheer madness to look at this level of investment instead of at saving our services."

Conventry North West's MP Geoffrey Robinson addressed Buckingham MP and Speaker of the House John Bercow during the debate.

He said: "I happen to agree with those who feel that HS2 would involve the unnecessary tearing up of some of the most beautiful country that we have. This morning, Mr Speaker, your constituents were waxing lyrical about their village. I feel for those who will have their houses smashed and repossessed-all for no good.

"It [HS2] will not benefit ordinary people, and it will not help the north-south divide."

The debate was opened by South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom, a prominent campaigner against the scheme.

She said: "There is no hard evidence that this project will reduce unemployment in the north. Every family in Britain will pay £1,000 for HS2 but 99per cent of people in this country will use the service less than once a year, and the wealthiest will use it four times more often than the poorest. That is a massive skewing of scarce resources."