Chris Pincher (the MP for Tamworth) and Michael Fabricant had further meetings with the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, and with Andrew McNaughton, the HS2 Chief Engineer, in Westminster last week.

Michael Fabricant said "We again re-emphasised that the original Adonis route is unacceptable. We also made it absolutely clear that an alternative route which would take the line close to Hopwas and to the very outskirts of Whittington was equally unacceptable. We told the Secretary of State that this route had been ‘disowned’ by Hints Parish Council. Even HS2 say that it is a non-starter as it takes trains far too close to homes in Whittington.

"HS2 reported that they had received many objections to both routes and indeed the email, petition, and letter writing campaign, from Lichfield and Tamworth constituents has exceeded any response from any other part of the route so far."

Chris Pincher commented "Any route that skirts Mile Oak and Hopwas is just not acceptable and HS2 must realise that. The original Adonis plan also does damage from Drayton Bassett and Hints all the way to Boley Park and beyond in the Lichfield constituency. So HS2 must be made to think again."

The new line of route is likely to be announced before Christmas. There will then be a further 5 months in 2011 for further amendments to be proposed.