For those questioning the tactics and motivations driving the Anti-HS2 brigade - just visit some of the sites, STOPHS2, HS2AA, 51M Group, etc. and peruse the dialogue. It doesn't take long to understand that the world is split into two halves;
Those that see HS2 and all of its associated machinations as an evil government funded plot designed deliberately to lay waste to a relatively small geographical area in and around the approved ROUTE3 option pathway, in which 99% of those populating the anti-HS2 Brigade just happen to reside
and
Those that don't
Delusional paranoia is de rigeur. The underlying strategy becomes clear once you comprehend the carefully hidden yet remorseless agenda. Any objection will do, provided it delivers the desired outcome; namely removing the threat posed by construction of HS2 from their immediate environment. If this means dumping the problem in someone else's backyard by getting the route moved; fine by them. Consideration of the UK's long term transport needs, required to facilitate a thriving economy, is immaterial, an annoying distraction.
Are there a number of well heeled supporters prepared to stump up serious dosh to fund a judicial review - you bet there are - just take a trip round the leafy lanes of Wendover, Amersham, Great Missenden, et al and you'll soon discover that the area oozes affluence. Are they willing to take the fight to the courts to preserve their cosy, undisturbed lifestyle ; of course they are!
We'll know soon enough if their legal case has legs - a judge will be appointed to review the supporting evidence and a decision whether or not to proceed will be reached fairly quickly - if that decision is negative, expect it to be challenged as well. The legal challenge will actually be split into two elements, one based on environmental aspects and the other related to due process during the official consultation period.
I'm 99.9% confident that both challenges will fail abysmally but I don't have access to the evidence so there is always the potential for some kind of fundamental cock-up having taken place, which throws a spanner in the works. I'd be suprised if the govt. gets off untarnished - I'm expecting criticism of some of the procedures followed but endorsement of the decision to proceed.
In the end I think the challenges fall into the bracket of delaying tactics, pure and simple. This secondary motive will almost certainly fail as well - HS2 Ltd, acting on behalf of the government, is pressing ahead regardless, setting up the initial stages of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) simultaneously with progress of the Judicial Review - in other words full steam ahead - the Hybrid Bill, essentially an enabling piece of legislation, will enter Parliament on 25th October 2013 and receive Royal Assent (pass into Statute - become Law) sometime around the beginning of February 2015, approx 3 months before the next General Election. Given that all mainstream parties support HS2/High Speed Rail, the outcome of the election is irrelevant.
Phase 1 construction will probably begin sometime towards the Autumn of 2016, at which point the project becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once initiated the project will be more expensive to cancel than it is to complete.