MP - High speed rail should serve communities affected by it's construction

South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom was at the heart of a Westminster debate into plans for a high speed rail line.
The discussion took place in Parliament on Tuesday, November 23.
Conservative Mrs Leadsome has long opposed the 250mph HS2 line, which senior members of her own party believe will enable Britain to compete with the likes of China and Brazil in the 21st century.
The line is set to run close to Brackley and is heavily opposed by residents, including members of the South Northants Action Group (SNAG) who believe it would damage the existing countryside and create noise pollution.
During the parliamentary debate, Mrs Leadsome asked the shadow transport minister Andrew Gwynne whether he agreed that a better project would be one that benefited those whose communities are affected by the route, by for example spurs off the main track allowing interim station stops.
Mr Gwynne agreed with this point.
Mrs Leadsome also asked the minister of state for transport Theresa Villiers if she believed the transport route should follow existing transport corridors.
For more on the debate see Andrea Leadsome's blog here