The latest campaign to stop HS2 delivered a petition to the Government and is hopeful of influencing the final decision on the project.

Yet the atmosphere concerning the project is of a quiet certainty that HS2 will go ahead. Despite all the campaigning opposing high speed rail, the Government maintains its belief that HS2 would be extremely beneficial to the country and is necessary to ensure our rail network keeps up with other countries.

The confidence which has so far supported HS2 looks as though it has the power to make it a reality. The opposing campaigns can debate the business case and environmental affects as much as they like, but in the end the final decision rests with Philip Hammond.

Of course it is important for those who feel strongly about these issues to try and make their voices heard, and a petition is a good way of making the Government aware of public opinion concerning this project.

But sometimes, no matter how loud they may shout, campaigners’ opinion’s only form part of the consideration for the final decision, and may be unlikely to have as much influence as they would like.