Commenting on the appointment of Justine Greening to the post of Minister for Transport, Jerry Marshall, Chairman, AGHAST, said:
"Having campaigned to stop the last government from expanding Heathrow, Justine Greening knows the folly of governments riding roughshod over people’s views to deliver projects that are built on a shoddy business case. HS2 is one such project. Just as with Heathrow, tens of thousands of people have said that they oppose this project, which will waste billions of pounds that could be better spent. She now has the chance to listen to these people and kill the white elephant of high speed rail 2. We are seeking a meeting at the earliest opportunity."
Justine Greening’s arguments against a third runway at Heathrow apply equally to HS2. Quotes from her opposition to the third runway include:
“Much of what I have said comes down to democracy. Ministers have said that we should not vote on such matters. … Many hon. Members feel that the third runway has such profound consequences for the day-to-day lives of their constituents that they view it as similarly important. We have had a consultation, to which residents have responded overwhelmingly by saying that they do not want the plan to go ahead. Despite all those points, Ministers still seek to override people's will. That is deeply worrying."
"The Government are isolated on this issue, and Ministers must ask themselves what is more important—saving face and sticking with a bad decision, or having the courage to admit that this is wrong, and change course. It is time to listen to the 70,000 people, including my constituents, who responded with their grave concerns to the consultations."
"At every stage the Government has ignored public opinion and shamelessly ignored the grave environmental risk of expanding Heathrow. At every stage, residents have made their concerns and views against further expansion very clear. The battle to stop Heathrow expansion will continue because preserving our quality of life is so important. I have got involved in buying this land to very actively represent the views of my own constituents. If the Government will not listen in Parliament, then ministers will find they have to listen in the courts."
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