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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Legal fight over high-speed rail | Legal fight over high-speed rail |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Campaigners against the HS2 rail scheme have confirmed they will make two court bids to halt the £33bn project. | Campaigners against the HS2 rail scheme have confirmed they will make two court bids to halt the £33bn project. |
| The HS2 Action Alliance is seeking two judicial reviews into the government's handling of the plan, to link London and Birmingham by rail in 45 minutes. | The HS2 Action Alliance is seeking two judicial reviews into the government's handling of the plan, to link London and Birmingham by rail in 45 minutes. |
| It claims ministers failed both to carry out environmental assessments and to consult properly over compensation. | |
| The government has said it "struck the right balance" between people's concerns and the national interest. | The government has said it "struck the right balance" between people's concerns and the national interest. |
| HS2 won ministerial approval in January, despite strong opposition, with Transport Minister Justine Greening saying the 14 trains per hour in each direction would create "jobs, growth and prosperity". | HS2 won ministerial approval in January, despite strong opposition, with Transport Minister Justine Greening saying the 14 trains per hour in each direction would create "jobs, growth and prosperity". |
| 'Inadequate information' | 'Inadequate information' |
| Its first phase, reducing the London-Birmingham journey time from one hour 24 minutes, is intended to be operational by 2025, with consultation on extensions to Manchester and Leeds to begin in 2014. | Its first phase, reducing the London-Birmingham journey time from one hour 24 minutes, is intended to be operational by 2025, with consultation on extensions to Manchester and Leeds to begin in 2014. |
| However, the action alliance - which has the backing of more than 70 opposition groups - claims the government failed to follow the proper processes in approving the scheme, much of which goes through Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. | |
| On the environment, which will be the subject of one of the legal battles, it says the government failed to carry out a full strategic assessment of the project's impact ahead of consultation. | On the environment, which will be the subject of one of the legal battles, it says the government failed to carry out a full strategic assessment of the project's impact ahead of consultation. |
| The other action will contend that "inadequate information was provided in the consultation, preventing the public from being able to give a meaningful response". | The other action will contend that "inadequate information was provided in the consultation, preventing the public from being able to give a meaningful response". |
| "The decision was without proper justification, ignored their own criteria and relied on new undisclosed material," the group claims. | "The decision was without proper justification, ignored their own criteria and relied on new undisclosed material," the group claims. |
| HS2 Action Alliance said on its website there had been a "brilliant response" from the public to its appeals for funds to raise the six-figure fee needed for legal action. | HS2 Action Alliance said on its website there had been a "brilliant response" from the public to its appeals for funds to raise the six-figure fee needed for legal action. |
| "We have two strong legal teams who are specialists in their fields and believe we have two powerful cases that the government must now answer," it said. | "We have two strong legal teams who are specialists in their fields and believe we have two powerful cases that the government must now answer," it said. |
| The government has 21 days to respond before a judge will decide whether the challenges will be allowed. | |
| Previously, the Department for Transport said the route had been continually improved to mitigate the impact both on those living near it and the environment. | Previously, the Department for Transport said the route had been continually improved to mitigate the impact both on those living near it and the environment. |
| "We believe we have struck the right balance between the reasonable concerns of people living on or near the line - who will be offered a package of compensation measures - the environment and the need to keep Britain moving," a spokesman said. | "We believe we have struck the right balance between the reasonable concerns of people living on or near the line - who will be offered a package of compensation measures - the environment and the need to keep Britain moving," a spokesman said. |
| Last week, another anti-HS2 coalition launched a similar legal action. | |
| The 51m Group - made up of 15 local authorities - is challenging the rail link on a range of grounds including the allegation that the government failed to consult properly on the original route, or the revised version of which was announced in January. |