CAMPAIGNERS in favour of a North-South highspeed rail link were accused of launching “class war” last night, on controversial new posters.
A furious row broke out over posters featuring Southern toffs in bowler hats, who were said to be fighting the 250mph line – in order to protect their huge Home Counties gardens.
One, that will be displayed in the North- East this week, reads: “Their lawns or our jobs? Support Newcastle.
Support High-Speed Rail.”
A second poster features a muscular construction worker, in a hard hat, and says: “Highspeed rail will bring more jobs to Newcastle. Yes to Jobs.”
They were designed by the “Yes to High Speed Rail” campaign, which is independent, although Conservative Transport Secretary Philip Hammond spoke at its inaugural event.
A video goes further, accusing rich people in the Chilterns of building “a million- pound war chest to spend on lawyers and PR types”, concluding: “Spread the wealth more fairly. Stand up for the people of the North!”
Last night, Joe Rukin, founder of Stop HS2, described the campaign as “incredible”, given that only the rich would be able to afford to travel on high-speed trains.
He added: “It is a fast train for fat cats. They are trying to maintain this charade that it is Southern nimbies against Northern growth. It is absolutely ridiculous. It is a stupid caricature.
“They have based their case on the argument that anyone who is against high-speed rail is a Tory Luddite. The only people supporting this are trainspotters, big business and greedy politicians.”
But a spokesman for the Yes campaign defended the posters, saying: “It’s an advert on the side of a bus – it needed to be green, clean, simple and eye-catching.”
A consultation on plans for the first section of the highspeed line – from London to Birmingham – will close next month, with a final decision by the end of this year A second stage will take lines to Leeds and Manchester, by the early 2030s, although the legislation will not be brought forward until after 2015.
The London-Newcastle journey time would be slashed from 3hr 9min to 2hr 37min – because high-speed trains would switch to conventional tracks north of Leeds – and overcrowding problems eased.
Protests are growing in the Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, where some homes will be destroyed.
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, a local MP, has hinted she might resign over the issue.
Nearly 200 groups and individuals have swamped a parliamentary inquiry into the high-speed rail inquiry with written evidence, an MP revealed yesterday.
Louise Ellman, who chairs the transport selects committee, said its report would be published in the autumn, adding: “We want to influence the Government’s decision.”
The inquiry gets under way today, hearing oral evidence on the impact of high-speed rail abroad.
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