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| Campaigners deliver HS2 petition to Downing Street | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Campaigners opposed to the government's proposed high-speed rail project have handed in a petition to Downing Street. | Campaigners opposed to the government's proposed high-speed rail project have handed in a petition to Downing Street. |
| The petition against HS2, which would connect London to Birmingham at a cost of £17bn, has 104,000 signatures. | The petition against HS2, which would connect London to Birmingham at a cost of £17bn, has 104,000 signatures. |
| Stop HS2 campaign co-ordinator Joe Rukin said: "There is simply no case for HS2, environmentally or economically." | |
| Birmingham Chamber of Commerce said it is "absolutely vital for economic growth outside of London". | Birmingham Chamber of Commerce said it is "absolutely vital for economic growth outside of London". |
| The scheme would cut commuters' journeys from London to Birmingham to 49 minutes. | The scheme would cut commuters' journeys from London to Birmingham to 49 minutes. |
| 'Fat cats' | 'Fat cats' |
| John Lamb, from the chamber, said: "Clearly the business community is behind the development within the core cities of the UK, including Birmingham." | John Lamb, from the chamber, said: "Clearly the business community is behind the development within the core cities of the UK, including Birmingham." |
| He said that as many as 400,000 new jobs would be created by the scheme, with the figure rising to one million in the wider urban areas. | He said that as many as 400,000 new jobs would be created by the scheme, with the figure rising to one million in the wider urban areas. |
| Mr Rukin said: "It will do none of the things which have been promised and is simply a poorly thought through fast train for fat cats - an unaffordable luxury which this country can ill-afford at this time of cuts." | Mr Rukin said: "It will do none of the things which have been promised and is simply a poorly thought through fast train for fat cats - an unaffordable luxury which this country can ill-afford at this time of cuts." |
| The HS2 route is set to run through rural parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. | The HS2 route is set to run through rural parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. |
| A further route has also been proposed extending HS2 into Manchester and Leeds. | A further route has also been proposed extending HS2 into Manchester and Leeds. |
| The petition was initially started to secure a parliamentary debate in the main chamber, which is due to happen on Thursday. | The petition was initially started to secure a parliamentary debate in the main chamber, which is due to happen on Thursday. |