Stratford District Council to fund anti-HS2 Bill petitions
Stratford District Councillors have agreed to spend £70,000 of council taxpayers’ money on supporting opposition to the High Speed 2 Bill in Parliament.
The money will be spent on petitioning actions on behalf of residents, business and communities within the district who will be affected by the new high speed train line. Council officials had argued that the move was justified as Bill, if passed, would authorise significant construction works in the district, as well as the compulsory purchasing of significant amounts of land and changes to roads.
They also pointed out that if the Bill is passed, petitioning could result in amendments being made to it and compensation policies altered.