London HS2

Local authorities and businesses in the Capital affected by the first phase of the HS2 high speed rail project must submit their petitions to parliament today.

Petitions on phase one of the proposals from London to the West Midlands are due to be put before a parliamentary committee of six MPs to consider.

Individuals and other petitioners have until May 23 to submit their petitions.

Campaigners have warned that the environmental effects of the HS2 rail line could last for generations to come.

There are already plans in place to protect the surrounding landscape - including the planting of up to two million trees.

But as Luke Hanrahan reports, some believe the proposals don't go far enough.

Green campaigners are calling for a more ambitious landscaping strategy to prevent HS2 becoming "an eyesore for generations to come".

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said HS2 Ltd's mitigation strategy includes planting up to two million trees, many of them fast-growing, to hide the London to Birmingham high-speed line.

But CPRE added that maps it had produced showed that "along most of the route, the area where you can see HS2 will be just as extensive 15 years after opening."

The CPRE wants to see a more extensive planting strategies and the putting under ground of nearby electricity transmission lines.

Supporters of the Stop HS2 campaign gathered outside the Houses of Parliament ahead of the second reading of the High Speed Rail Bill later today.

The protest comes amid suggestions senior Tories will rebel against proposals to build the high-speed rail link over environmental and economic concerns.

Read: Controversial HS2 compensation deal revealed

Wildlife Trusts in England are calling on the government to do more to mitigate the environmental impact of the proposed high speed two railway line.

Read: Controversial HS2 compensation scheme revealed

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has been sacked as the party vice-chairman after his outspoken criticism of the HS2 rail link.

Fabricant claimed on Twitter that he was asked to reign but refused, and was then sacked over the comments along with those he made about former Culture Secretary Maria Miller's resignation.

The MP is set to lead a Tory revolt against the £50 billion HS2 rail scheme later this month, calling for legislation paving the way for the London-Birmingham link to be denied a second reading.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said he hopes a package of compensation will ease the concerns of those living near the planned route of the HS2 rail scheme.

“I completely understand the concerns and anxieties of those living near the line and it is only right that those people are properly looked after," Mr McLoughlin said as the compensation scheme was announced.

“I believe this package of compensation and assistance will enable us to help people more. But I want to get it absolutely right, so I am asking for further views on some aspects before we finalise the plans.

“HS2 will transform many people’s lives for the better, but where its impacts are less positive we will do all we can to provide the right help and assistance.”

Read: Resident attacks 'grossly unfair' HS2 compensation

The Government's HS2 compensation scheme has been attacked by people living along the route who claim their homes and lives have been blighted.

Thousands of west London residents living above a tunnel where trains will travel at 225 mph have been told they will receive nothing.

Campaigner Lottie Jones of Ruislip Anti HS2 said her home was now impossible to sell.

"I think it's grossly unfair we are being discriminated against in urban areas as opposed to rural areas. There should be no difference in how the blight is recognised above tunnels," she added.

"Just because we've got tunnelling here doesn't mean we won't be disrupted and our lives won't be affected by HS2.

"Our houses are very much blighted and have been for three-and-a-half years, decreasing in value and they're nigh on impossible to sell."

Read: Controversial HS2 compensation deal revealed

West Ruislip Station is the dividing line between urban deals and more generous rural payments under the HS2 compensation scheme.

Read: Controversial HS2 compensation deal revealed