THE Free Press has been opposed to the dreadful HS2 rail plan from day one – but today we seriously have to question the wisdom of using taxpayers’ cash to fight the Government in court.

Yes, it is absolutely right that our councillors join campaigners in battling to derail the awful proposals that will damage our precious Chilterns. And, if people want to voluntarily donate to action groups for a court fight, then so be it. Most of us would dip our hands into our pockets for this.

However, we do not believe it is right for local councils in these days of austerity to use their residents’ cash for such a fight.

Firstly, not all taxpayers across the area are necessarily going to share the anti-HS2 view. But, more fundamentally, how can our Tory-controlled authorities justify this public expense in a battle against a Tory-led coalition government when, at the same time, they are telling us there is no money available for vital services?

Last week, for example, we saw the county education boss tell us how he had to make major savings to school transport. The possible result is that some grammar children will have to pay up to £1,170 annually just to get to school each day.

To many parents, this will be a drop in the ocean. But to others, it will simply be unaffordable. Grammar schools are meant to be for children of all backgrounds, but too often we have seen the advantage switch to wealthier families who can afford tuition fees in preparation for the 11 plus.

Now, even if the poorer pupils make it through despite this disadvantage, they still might not be able to attend grammar school because of the travel costs.

Meanwhile, we have the spectre of more NHS services being moved from Wycombe.

The decision here is taken by health trusts which (unlike the case of HS2) are not democratically-elected bodies. If ever there was a need for a publicly-funded judicial review, that would be it.

And don’t forget, whose money would be used in court to defend the Government position? Yes, your tax cash as well.

So yes, we want to fight tooth and nail to stop HS2. Yes, we would take to the streets to campaign against it. But no, we would never support spending your tax money to do it while frontline services suffer. There are other ways to win this war.