A council will consider supporting a £100,000 appeal if its High Court legal challenge over HS2 is rejected.
Aylesbury Vale District Council will find out in the new year if a judge agrees with it that the Government acted unlawfully when it approved the high speed line.
If not, an appeal would need to be lodged within seven days. {http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/local-news/hs2-judicial-review-latest-hs2-claims-dealt-a-major-blow-as-central-argument-that-trains-are-full-is-not-shown-in-dft-s-own-figures-1-4551672|Click here for more details about the legal challenge|click here for more}
AVDC’s decision-making body, the cabinet, is being asked next week if members will support further legal action – to ensure the seven day appeal deadline can be met.
AVDC had previously pledged £150,000 to the legal challenge, which covers its contribution to the appeal.
The authority is part of a coalition of 15 councils which are prepared to spend £1.3 million fighting HS2.
Another member of the group, Bucks County Council, has pledged £500,000 over three years.
So far £165,000 has been spent bringing a judicial review, which equates to 9p for every resident in the 15 council areas.
The estimated £100,000 cost of appealing is likely to be met by the 51m coalition rather than one council on its own.
The councils involved in the legal action claim the Department for Transport approved the high speed line before releasing maps showing the full route.
To read the report being considered by Aylesbury Vale District Council’s cabinet next week {http://committees.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/committees/committees.aspx?commid=74&meetid=1435 |click here and open Appendix E|click here for more}