THE residents of Princes Risborough are being called upon to air their views on a proposed high speed train plan that could pass half a mile to the west of the town.

The Government's preferred route for the High Speed 2 rail project between London and Birmingham would cut through the Chilterns via Chalfont St Giles, Old Amersham and near Great Missenden.

Their second preferred “alternative line”, route 2.5, could be directed under Hazlemere and Gerrards Cross, across a viaduct spanning Hughenden Valley and through a tunnel which would emerge half a mile to the west of Princes Risborough.

At last night's annual town meeting of Princes Risborough's town council, chairman Alan Turner said: “We need to look at this very carefully as a community. Certainly from a town council's point of view we need a lot of feedback from yourselves.”

He said various public meetings will be held which residents are welcome to.

The project plans to see trains travelling at speeds up to 250mph and say it would cut journey times by around 40 minutes.

There would be at least 14 trains running in each direction every hour, possibly rising to 18. The Government said the project will cost £30billion.

Cllr Turner added: “My personal feeling is I cannot see how it can be economically justified to spend that sort of money just to get a few more people to Birmingham ten minutes faster than they do already. I find that baffling and cannot see the benefits to that- maybe I am wrong.”