OPPONENTS of the proposed London to Birmingham HS2 rail link were dealt a blow this week when the Court of Appeal dismissed an action by the 51M group, which includes Hillingdon Council.

Appeal judges ruled it was for Parliament to decide whether HS2 went ahead and, until they did, no decision had actually been made.

Hillingdon maintains the Government has failed to identify and assess the potential significant effects on the environment and to look at reasonable alternatives to HS2.

Hillingdon, as part of the 51M Group, has permission to appeal now to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

Council leader Ray Puddifoot said: “We are closer to our people and our environment than those in government , with the current HS2 proposal, we have a scheme that is demonstrably an economic disaster and of no national benefit.

"Accordingly we feel we have a duty of care to protect our people and our environment.”