CAMPAIGNERS from more than 30 action groups protesting against plans for a high speed rail link met at a National Trust home which would be affected by the proposals.

They came from towns and villages all the way along the proposed route between London and Birmingham to discuss new campaigns opposing the project, called High Speed 2.

Members of the action groups met at Hartwell House near Aylesbury – close to where the planned line, which would cut through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, would go.

They had been invited along by the HS2 Action Alliance, an organisation fighting against the controversial plans that have sparked anger amongst residents of Buckinghamshire.

The deadline for submissions to the Department for Transport's consultation on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme passed last Thursday.

This week the Alliance launches its next campaign, called 'Spending Choices', as part of a government consultation asking the public what it would like money spent on.

Sarah-Jane Axelby from the Alliance said: “For example in Amersham we might say 'spend money on our hospital rather than HS2'. It's to provide feedback on where they want money spent.”

A second meeting of the action groups is due to take place at a venue in south Northamptonshire on July 4.

For more information go to www.hs2actionalliance.org.