HS2 challenge decision on track for new year (From Bicester Advertiser)

No wonder that we are now the most backward country in the so called 1st World. Anytime that something is done to improve life for the majority it is stopped by the ignorant vocal minority, be it a new swimming pool, badly needed houses, or a rail system to bring us into the 20th century, (yes 20th).

What majority? Do the great majority agree that HS2 is a good idea? Well as it happens NO. In a recent poll only 4% yes 4% wanted HS2. The majority of people want an integrated transport system including Airports, Roads, Freight Ports and yes Rail. We do not have one and this Government have sidelined the Airports review report till 2015 after the next election. Roads in the UK are in many cases little better than third world and in a lot of cases worse. We already have a High Speed Rail system within the UK that yes does need improving, but NOT by HS2 as this does not help the SW of England, The Eastern Counties,Most of the Midlands and yes the North who need local infrastructure projects which will never get built due to HS2.
If you need to blame someone then blame this Government who wants to stop both Judicial Reviews and FOI to stop the public holding it to account. We are becoming more like a Dictatorship than the Father and Mother of Democracy. Most would sooner a delay and get it right than to hurry and waste even more of our money. In the last 10 years our Governments have wasted £34 BILLION pounds of our money on failed projects. Lets not waste more by not listening to the public who have to pay.

@snagagainsths2
So it's OK to quote public opinion polls commissioned by anti-HS2 groups asking deliberately selective questions designed to solicit a predesignated response - and this is your evidence?

HS2 is a long term strategy to provide a step change increase in capacity, reliability, quality and speed of rail transport - a world class sustainable transport network fit for the 21st century.

Record sums ARE being ploughed into the existing rail network over the next ten years (loads of improvements all completing before the first sod is cut for HS2 construction) but it suits your purpose to convey a misleading situation in a brazen attempt to distort public opinion.

Funny how we live in democracy when things are going along nicely but when an issue arises conflicting with your cosy circumstances, suddenly the UK transforms into a vicious totalitarian state!

Stop the drama queen approach and engage constructively with these long overdue plans - we ALL paid for HS1, which benefited London and the South East (again!). Why haven't you mentioned that wanton waste of public money called CrossRail - currently consuming the very same £2bn of funding that will sustain HS2 in decades to come. Could it be that you aren't bothered about CrossRail because
a) it's nowhere near you
b) it exclusively benefits London and South East!

@snagagainsths2
At the 2010 General Election all 3 main political parties included support for High Speed Rail in their election manifestos; the result was more than 26 million people voted for these parties.

And you have the gall to start ranting about the government's HS2 policy being anti-democratic. GROW UP !!!