Government claims HS2 victory
The Government is claiming a High Court victory tonight over the high speed rail link - HS2 - and its legal fight with protesters. Andrew and Stacey link to our Transport Corespondent, Mike Pearse.
High speed ahead for HS2 route
The High Court has revealed the results of a Judicial Review into the HS2 rail link plans. Most of the legal challenges from campaigners fighting the plans were dismissed, but the Government was told its consultation on compensation was 'unlawful'.
HS2 compensation consultation deemed 'unlawful'
The High Court ruled that the consultation process for compensating those affected by the HS2 high-speed rail scheme "was so unfair as to be unlawful".
The decision was a victory for the High Speed 2 Action Alliance (HS2AA), which consists of more than 70 affiliated action groups and residents' associations.
The HS2AA case was one of five separate cases brought to block the rail scheme in its current form - it was the only case to succeed.
Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting at London's High Court, is now hearing submissions from lawyers on the appropriate remedy.
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High Court's judgment on HS2 case
Residents living near HS2 route 'should not bear burden'
A lawyer from the firm who represented High Speed 2 Action Alliance (HS2AA) - who won a case against the government today - expressed delight over the victory on the compensation challenge.
– Richard Stein, Leigh Day law firm who represented HS2AAThis was never a Nimby argument. Many thousands of people living along the route will not be able to sell their homes for some 15 years because their homes are blighted.
They should not have to bear the burden for this national project.
We hope now that proper arrangements are put in place by the Government for compensation for those who live by the proposed HS2 route to make it possible for them to move if and when they wish, in the same way that the rest of us can.
Govt HS2 compensation consultations 'unlawful'
Government consultations on compensating those affected by the proposed HS2 high-speed rail scheme were today ruled "unlawful" by the High Court, lawyers Leigh Day said.
BREAKING: New consultation on HS2 compensation
Government says it will hold new consultation on HS2 property compensation following High Court ruling.
They say it will not delay the project and "it is full speed ahead. "
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BREAKING: HS2 consultees not given enough info on compensation
Mr Justice Ouseley said "The Secretary of State did not provide consultees with enough information about the property compensation scheme. "
Rural areas affected by HS2 proposals
The High Court is to rule today on legal challenges to the Government's HS2 high-speed rail scheme.
This report from January by Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen explains the route's location and why it is so controversial:
Compensation case loss 'will not affect' HS2 timetable
Rail Minister Simon Burns hailed the four out of five cases won at the High Court as a "landmark victory"and said the loss on the compensation case would "not affect the HS2 construction timetable in any way".
– Rail Minister Simon BurnsThis is a major landmark victory for HS2 and the future of Britain. The judge has categorically given the green light for the Government to press ahead without delay in building a high-speed railway from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
Government's HS2 consultation 'not unfair'
by Mike Pearse
The Government has not acted unfairly in its consultation on HS2 says High Court.
It is not "irrational or unlawful" for the Government to want to promote the bill for the £32bn scheme.
The court is satisfied that while some individual people or groups may not have had opinions taken into account during the consultation the issues were taken into account.