Wants it to be tunnelled through London or won't give his backing

Boris Johnson says he can't back current plans for the High Speed Tunnel (HS2) unless the whole route through London is tunnelled.

The link from Euston to Birmingham sees the line emerging from the tunnel at Old Oak Common, in East Acton, before running openly alongside the Central line tracks through Hanger Lane, Perivale, Greenford and Northolt.

In a letter to an anti-HS2 campaigner, Boris Johnson said he is concerned,about the environmental impact of the route through Ealing and Hillingdon.

He wrote: "It is perverse that a section of route through Greater London, clearly affecting large numbers of people, has been subject to so little environmental mitigation.

"I am seeking substantial changes in design of the route to ensure these impacts are properly addressed, preferably by tunnelling the whole route through London. Without such changes, I cannot support the current proposal."

However Ken Livingston has accused Boris Johnson of "playing politics". 

Labour's mayoral candidate Mr Livingstone said the Johnson had only "just woken up to the significance of this issue for communities and residents in the capital".

Mr Livingstone, who also disagrees with the current HS2 proposals, told the Evening Standard: "I have been campaigning for proposals that would bring greater transport benefits for London and avoid the environmental damage involved in the existing scheme."

Ealing Council has lodged a holding objection to the initial route plans for High Speed 2 (HS2) because of the disruption that could be caused at borough level.

The council says the objection will hold until more details are revealed.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said:

“We held back our views for some time as we wanted to hear what residents had to say. This is about listening to residents and reflecting this as a council. Until the consultation launched we didn't know what details would be put forward. HS2 Ltd came back with little response although we gave them every opportunity.

''Now our cross-party response is to lodge a holding objection until we are given much more detail. It's far too important for party politics, these are people's lives, people's homes."

The public consultation ends on July 29, to have your say visit: http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk. The full objection letter sent by the council can be found on the council website: www.ealing.gov.uk/transportandstreets A map of the proposed route can be found on the Department for Transport’s website: www.dft.gov.uk

6th July 2011