Consultation into plans to build a second high speed rail link connecting London and Birmingham ends on July 29 and 14 local authorities have already formed a consortium opposing the plans. But their action raises a difficult question: how far should localism be allowed to impede or obstruct national infrastructure projects? Alan Goodrum and Cllr Martin Tett give their views.

One of the saddest sights in local government is to see a grown up chief executive buying a railway magazine at W H Smiths. This is not a reflection of the current financial climate, children or grandchildren, escapism or regression.