On my Lord, what do they think they are up to? New Labour must feel, with the election looming, that they are doing so well in the polls they should try to ensure they alienate every potential voter from The Chalfonts to Waddesdon & beyond by slinging a high speed rail link through the Chilterns. Obviously the existing rail network has been invested to to a point at which no further improvements can be made so, and as we have £30 billion slooshing around in the public coffers and in need of a home (the homesless/NHS/education/care of the elderly/decent equipment for our troops and MP’s expenses having clearly been overfunded already), they must have pondered long and hard what to spend it on.
On a serious note, the Chilterns are one of the primary reasons why so many of us choose to live or visit this area. They provide a green lung for London and an immediate escape from noise, pollution and urban living that that dogs much of our daily routine. Any infringement into this AONB will weaken its protected status and before we know it we will have Tesco, Aldi & Starbucks setting up franchises in the Lee. Perhaps a multiplex at Ballinger! Sorry, I have gone into rant mode again. We have been spoilt and assumed this Eden as our automatic right for too long. So speak now and smite the developmental serpent, or Paradise will indeed be Lost.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/route/keyplan.pdf
PS This was a party political broadcast on behalf of no party but the Sharpie one!
PPS Thanks to Steve for letting us know about the route, cheers m’dear