Right Lines Charter

News UK April 2011
Alliance agrees 'The Right Lines Charter' to hold the Government to account on its approach to High Speed Rail. 7 April topic

The Charter calls for
 * a national transport strategy
 * better future-proofing of big transport proposals
 * effective public participation and
 * a more strategic approach to minimising adverse impacts.

Its supporters seek to engage positively with the Government, as they believe the approach to High Speed Rail currently falls well short of the Charter's principles. Many groups commenting publicly on High Speed Rail to date have represented either people living along the proposed route or businesses and cities that could profit from it.

'The Right Lines Charter' draws together for the first time national charities, covering environmental, heritage, countryside, legal and wildlife issues, in addition to other organisations. It seeks to achieve the best long-term outcome from high speed rail for the country, the climate, communities and the countryside. The following organisations support the Charter:


 * Campaign for Better Transport
 * Campaign to Protect Rural England
 * Chiltern Society
 * Civic Voice
 * Environmental Law Foundation
 * Friends of the Earth
 * Greenpeace UK
 * RSPB
 * The Wildlife Trusts
 * Woodland Trust

These organisations are individually bound by their specific charitable and constitutional objectives and will want separately to emphasise their own particular priorities through the consultation process. There is, however, sufficient common ground between them to create a joint approach on a range of fundamental issues.

Consultations 2011
The Government launched its High Speed Rail consultation on 28 February and it runs to 29 July. Full details are available at: http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/

References