FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Cooper, 01484 667519 | 07721
348619
Green Party Energy Spokesperson, Kirklees
councillor
Yorkshire & Humber Lead Euro candidate.
A leading Yorkshire & The Humber Green Party Euro-candidate has condemned the decision by the Coalition Government to block a report that is believed to be highly critical of the planned High Speed 2 railway line which is proposed to cut a swathe through scores of communities in our region.
Cllr Andrew Cooper said,
"I am appalled that the Government has used an obscure
legality to overturn the decision of the Information Commissioner to release
this report. I am even more disturbed that the Government
Minister, Patrick McLoughlin, who announced the decision claims literally that "there is a strong public interest against (the report's) disclosure" (1) to the public. Mr McLoughlin was previously quoted arguing for its suppression because it would create "political and presentational difficulties" (2). That doesn't sound like having anything at all to do with the public interest - quite the opposite, in fact. It is being done to protect the Coalition, not the country and certainly not our County."
Minister, Patrick McLoughlin, who announced the decision claims literally that "there is a strong public interest against (the report's) disclosure" (1) to the public. Mr McLoughlin was previously quoted arguing for its suppression because it would create "political and presentational difficulties" (2). That doesn't sound like having anything at all to do with the public interest - quite the opposite, in fact. It is being done to protect the Coalition, not the country and certainly not our County."
The report was drawn up for the Major Projects Authority, which
used it to review the plans, currently costed at
over $42 billions but likely to be even more expensive if it goes ahead. Leaked
documents from the MPA late last year suggested that
the review concluded that the viability of the HS2 project was doubtful, but
the Government has steadfastly refused to release any details in spite of being
ordered to do so by the Information Commissioner. It has now invoked a rarely
used power to veto the Commissioner's instruction.
"The HS2 project is revealing just how controlling,
patronising and secretive our Government has become," said Cllr Andrew
Cooper."If they won't trust the public, how on earth is the public
supposed to trust them?"
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