I ONCE described the previous government's plans for a third runway at Heathrow as the most damaging threat to Hillingdon's environment since the Second World War.

We were able to defeat that proposal but now the coalition government appears to be favouring plans for a high-speed train route, which would bring an equally damaging threat to Hillingdon.

The approach being taken is very much the same as with R3: promote the scheme as a done deal and start blighting the area with the issue of property purchase bonds or similar for those directly affected.

Consultation will end on July 31, although no start date has yet been announced, but this is seen as a formality as the consultation will include large areas of the north of the country who will vote in big numbers to support the concept of high-speed rail although, in truth, they have no real interest in the route taken to get there.

The government will promote this support as being in favour of the proposed route through the Chilterns.

I have been meeting with council leaders and transport cabinet members from all along the proposed route and a strong coalition has been formed. We will all contribute to a fighting fund - Hillingdon will commit

£135,000 now and more as required.

May I assure residents that our resolve to defeat this proposal is as resolute as that which saw off R3, the closing of Harefield Hospital and, a few years back now, the Warner Bros theme park on Hillingdon House Farm.

Without a shadow of a doubt both the economic and environmental case for the proposed route are accepted, even by the government, as too weak to justify going ahead with this scheme but, as with R3, they will push it forward on a 'national interest' basis.

Or rather they will try!

Sooner or later governments of whatever political colour will come to realise that national interest includes the people and the environment of this country.

This HS2 route is a concept not a done deal, and it is a poor concept at that.

Together in Hillingdon and with those all along the proposed route, we will defeat this ill-conceived destruction of property and our environment.