HS2: Campaigners vow to fight as they gather in Great Missenden (From Bucks Free Press)

HS2: Campaigners vow to fight as they gather in Great Missenden

5:31pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 in News By Rebecca Cain

ACTOR Geoffrey Palmer said he hopes common sense might prevail and the opposition is as strong as ever against HS2 as campaigners gathered in Great Missenden today.

The proposed High Speed Rail link from London to the north was given the green light this morning by the government.

Impassioned campaigners against the £32.7 billion project gathered to hear speakers in the Baptist Hall as the national media descended on the small village in the Chilterns.

Mr Palmer, who lives near Great Missenden, said about the decision: "I think nothing has changed. The opposition is as strong as ever.

"It is, as far as I can see, politician's vanity."

He said he hopes that common sense might prevail and said he would like to see the money spent elsewhere. He added: "We have no money. What little money we have got we should put into something worthwhile."

Campaigners then gathered in the Cross Keys pub and the White Lion, where Martin Davis from the band, Dirty Mavis, sang Oak Tree Lament, which was released in support of Stop HS2.

It got to number seven in the ITunes singers and songwriters chart, number one in the HMV downloads chart, number two in Amazon folk and number 23 in the BBC indie UK chart without any airplay.

He said: "The song has done very well. It was amazing, given the fact we have written it, recorded it, produced it- all by six amateurs in Bucks, through the support of our friends, family and opponents of the line"

Independent Chiltern District Councillor Seb Berry spoke at the meeting. He said: "It was a full meeting and of course we have the national media here, which is not surprising. As I said, Great Missenden is at the heart of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the heart of the campaign against HS2. it is not surprising that we are the focus of so much national interest. The clear message is the campaign goes on."

Grant Thomson, who lives in Great Missenden, said after speaking to people at the meeting: "We are all prepared to vote for anybody but the three main parties. We are all absolutely clear on that point. They will not get our vote because we feel so strongly about it. The only way we can hurt the politicians is by not voting for them and someone who is completely independent."

Steve Roderick, chief officer of the Chiltern Conservation Board, said the announcement was not the go-ahead for HS2 but simply the government reinstating it intention to build the railway and parliament will not even discuss it until 2013.

He said they welcome some of the changes in the proposals but that is not the whole story. He said it will cause massive irreversible damage and it will take ten years to build the railway, in which time it will change the way of life for every one in that part of the country.

He said: "It is a rough deal for the countryside" and added: "The whole point of designating as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it to protect it from damaging development."

Andrew Garnett, chairman of the Chesham and Amersham Conservative Association and district cllr said he was very disappointed by the decision.

He said: "We wanted to be listened to. We haven't been. The fight goes on. We fight to win and we move forward now to a judicial challenge."

He said he will remain a Conservative as he can exercise influence within the party which he can't do outside.

Bucks County Council leader, Martin Tett, said: "We should be investing in the road and rail infrastructure that people already use around the whole country that brings jobs and economic growth now when we really need it."