ORGANISATIONS must unite to fight high-speed rail plans, according to the director of a national campaign.
Lizzy Williams, director of STOP HS2, has said that for Harefield to have an effective voice, a co-ordinated effort will be required.
This means that Harefield Tenants' and Residents Association's new campaign group, which was launched last Thursday, should link up with other interest groups across the village.
This includes Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre (HOAC), which would be forced to shut down, rendered unusable by the rail line, Harefield History Society, and angling campaigners fighting to preserve the village lakes.
Another campaign group is expected to be set up by villagers in nearby Denham..
Ms Williams, a construction professional from Northamptonshire, visited Harefield last Thursday to give a talk.
She said: "This is a vanity project driven by greed, and is a terribly puttogether proposal.
"The bad news here is that the local authority was very slow to publicise it."
The HS2 proposals were announced by former Labour transport secretary Lord Adonis last April.
When the government changed, the coalition decided to push ahead with the current route rather than choose another option, which new transport secretary Philip Hammond has supported.
Harefield councillor Richard Barnes (Con) said: "There is a national interest case for it. What we have to do is disprove it."
A majority decision at the tenants' and residents' association meeting at Harefield Library backed the opposition to the high-speed line.
Chairwoman Pauline Crawley said: "Ten people have volunteered to sit on the committee - I was extremely pleased that so many people expressed an interest. One has also volunteered to be a secretary. We have new people getting involved from the south of the village, which is encouraging."
South Harefield will have to bear the brunt of the rail route, with the noise a factor as well as picturesque views likely to be blighted by the introduction of a 15m tall and 75m wide viaduct up to three kilometres in length.
The new group will meet to work out a campaigning strategy to join the nationwide fight against HS2.
Opposition has also been backed by the Colne Valley Partnership, the unique area of countryside situated next to Harefield.
South Bucks councillor Bruce Allen,
chairman of the partnership, said: "The Colne Valley Park provides a valuable resource for people from west London and other areas to enjoy.
"A new high-speed railway through an area of open countryside will have a devastating effect on the landscape and amenities of this area."
