WYCOMBE MP Steve Baker opposed the conclusions of a newly released report on High Speed 2 which he helped to write, he revealed this morning.

Mr Baker was the only one of nine MPs on a committee examining the controversial rail scheme who voted against its findings.

He said he was “very disappointed” after it concluded: “We believe that there is a good case for proceeding with a high-speed rail network.”

The proposed route will cut through Buckinghamshire's countryside heartland.

Although he believes it may now give the Government “momentum” to move forward with the plans he stressed that there is plenty of “meat” in the detail of the study which protesters can use as ammunition to continue fighting it.

The report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee was released today.

Mr Baker put forward amendments to “substantially soften” the report's key conclusion (above) but this was defeated by five votes to four.

Other changes were also narrowly defeated.

“The reality is some of my colleagues were actually quite concerned about some aspects of the report, at least four of us feel there is a significant amount for the Government to do before it can justifiably make a decision,” he said.

But he said the anti-HS2 lobby should not be too disheartened.

“I actually think there's quite a lot of meat in the report for opponents. “I think people with strong well grounded objections must keep up their objections, the Government decision is not made yet.

"Until the bill goes through there's still the possibility that it will drop the bill or colleagues can be persuaded to vote against.

“At the moment it does look like the momentum is behind the Government to continue but I've continued to object and I know my Buckinghamshire colleagues continue to make representations privately.

“The debate and the fight goes on.”

Buckinghamshire County Council, which has ploughed taxpayers' cash into fighting the plans, believes the report “strongly validate” its concerns.

Despite the bottom line conclusion, a number of criticisms are made.

The report said it is “unfortunate” the route crosses the Chilterns AONB which it calls “a national asset”.

It also dashed arguments saying it will have substantial carbon-reduction benefits.

“These claims do not stand up to scrutiny,” it stated.

BCC highlighted the finding that said no decision should be made until a full appraisal of the entire 'Y' network – which includes extending the line to Leeds and Manchester – has been made.

Martin Tett, Leader of BCC is also chairman of action group 51m alliance.

He said: "In light of this report, it would be sheer folly for the Government to press ahead with committing £32 billion of taxpayers' money to this infeasible and unjustifiable scheme.

"We urge the new Transport Secretary to heed the recommendations in today's TSC report - take HS2 back to the drawing board.

“The country needs a fully integrated transport infrastructure, with good connectivity across the entire UK - that's how we can revitalise our economy and generate growth in our northern cities, in Wales, and the south west."

The Woodland Trust said the report “does little to allay environmental concerns”.