With the Public Consultation Roadshow travelling up the route of the proposed HS2 line and the Transport Select Committee about to begin its public inquiry into the economics of HS2, "the next few weeks will be crucial to the future of high speed rail and it is important that campaigners don’t blow it with inaccurate details", warns Michael Fabricant.

"It is imperative that those campaigning against HS2, as well as those who support high speed rail, visit the roadshows organised by the Department for Transport not only to give their views to the officials, but also to learn in detail precisely how the track will cross the country. This should be a two-way learning process for both campaigners and the Department for Transport.

"It is particularly important that those opposing HS2 get their facts straight. Inaccurate talk by campaigners of viaducts where there are none or visual eyesores where the track will be buried will weaken their argument against HS2. It will result in their evidence not being taken seriously. There has been a lot of this of late which, while succeeding in whipping up local concern, has diminished the real evidence against HS2.

"The Public Consultation Roadshow will be at the Guildhall Lichfield on the 8th and 9th June and at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on the 17th and 18th June." Other locations are published here

"As I have said on previous occasions, it is legitimate for those opposing HS2, for whatever reasons, to argue both against HS2 in principle as well as suggest changes to the route to minimise the impact on householders and the environment.

"As of the 2nd May, there are just 88 days left to make these representations to the Department for Transport.

"Meanwhile the House of Commons Transport Select Committee will begin their own independent public inquiry in a month and they will take an independent look at the economic case for and against HS2. The range of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry will be broad and will include a study of whether the west coast main line could be improved instead. The full range of the inquiry can be found here.

"I managed to persuade the Chairman and members of the Committee to hold this inquiry after considerable lobbying. I know that the conclusions of the Committee will be very influential whichever way it goes. Downing Street will be looking very closely at their report when it is published later this year. I have already contacted Stop HS2, the Anti HS2 Alliance, and the Council for the Protection of Rural England informing them of this inquiry and suggesting that they provide both written and oral evidence to the Committee. I know they will now be doing so. The Department of Transport and the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, will also be giving evidence with the counter arguments.

"The Whittington (Staffordshire) anti HS2 group will also be presenting evidence to the Committee. I have seen a draft which is very articulate and puts the economic case well."