No politics in our HS2 opposition

Oct 14 2010 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

AS CO-CHAIRMAN of the Great Missenden Village Association (GMVA), I am writing in response to Cheryl Gillan's extraordinary dismissal of our members' concerns about HS2 (the High Speed Two rail link) as nothing more than a 'political stunt'.

The GMVA is an apolitical campaigning organisation which exists to hold to account members of government, at all levels and from all parties, on matters of local concern.

When the Labour government announced its preferred route, we consulted our members and received an overwhelming mandate to fight HS2 on economic as well as environmental grounds. Since that time the volunteers who form our committee have worked tirelessly, in addition to their day jobs, to ensure a full public debate.

Despite pre-election pledges that she would 'defy the party whip, be very, very sure of that', Cheryl Gillan has subsequently made no statements about HS2, tabled no questions, written no articles and turned up at none of the local events organised to protest against the plans.

Meanwhile her cabinet colleague, Philip Hammond, has made ever more bullish pronouncements about the future of the scheme. That is why one of our members suggested an open letter calling on Ms Gillan to follow the lead of colleagues such as government whip Jeremy Wright, who has said he will represent his constituents by standing down and fighting HS2 from the back benches if the proposals go ahead.

The fact that our member of parliament chose to respond to this community letter, signed by GMVA and by 33 independent businesses, by launching a personal attack on my co-chairman, Seb Berry, unfortunately speaks volumes.

Yes, Seb is looking to expand his civic role by running for local election as a Liberal Democrat, but he did not write this letter alone, nor approach any of the other signatories. I am not a member of any political party and

I have no idea how the rest of the committee chooses to vote as it is totally irrelevant to our purpose.

Rather than throwing around personal accusations, which I believe to be beneath a cabinet minister, I would like Ms Gillan to respond, publicly, to the substance of our letter.

If she still doubts the views or motivations of our members, then she will also be most welcome to come and speak at the GMVA annual meeting next month.

CLAIRE MARRIOTT Co-chairman GMVA