Public go online in their thousands to make views known

Apr 1 2010 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

THOUSANDS of Chilterns residents have voiced their objections to the proposed high-speed rail line through the district through online polls.

A Save the Chilterns Facebook page has attracted 7,346 members, while a Downing Street online petition against the plans has been signed by 5,814 people. Comments from angry readers have been flooding into our websites.

You can read all our high-speed rail coverage at www.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk /south-buckinghamshire-news/ highspeedrail/.

Here is a sample of the views we have received this week:

**Ruairdih Kee: "This is ridiculous, building a high-speed train directly through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They shouldn't be allowed to do this."

**Derek Yardley: "What is the point of legally designating, and thus protecting, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty if 'members' of the government, who, incidentally, we have not elected by vote (Lord Adonis) can desecrate the area on a whim and totally disregard the legal protection granted to Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and/or Green Belt?

"If the man wants, as seems to be the case, to be famous as 'the man who radicalised the railroads' then let him allocate the £30plus billion to maintaining and improving the existing rail network, or maybe even fill some of the nation's potholes in our road system. After all, he is in charge of the government's department of transport.

"I await, with interest, to see if anyone in this present government can explain how and why this is being allowed in the Chilterns area."

 **Love my Village: "We have to accept that humans cannot have everything we want. So yes, it may take a long time to get from Birmingham to London at the moment. But if you want to work there, then move closer; if you want to visit, then plan you journey.

"Don't ruin an area renowned for its beauty and character. It's the worst type of arrogance from people who are used to demanding and getting what they want."

* Horrified: "All of us who live in the Chilterns must do whatever we can to prevent this vandalism taking place, if not for us, for our children and their children."

* The Realist: "There is absolutely no need to carve up large areas of Green Belt or farming land that gives both pleasure and income to many for the sake of a high-speed rail route which will not necessarily be beneficial to the local economy.

"However, in this modern day and age of reducing our carbon footprint and saving energy and improving our economy, we must recognise our railways have a very vital role to play. Therefore, anyone thinking of protesting needs to persuade the government to choose a more people-friendly route, which can easily be done."