PROTESTERS outside the High Speed Rail Exhibition in Ruislip flustered officials with intelligent questions yesterday.

Hundreds of people turned out to the two day Exhibition at Winston Churchill Hall and directed questions about proposals to HS2 and Department of Transport officials.

Many questions were not answered and when challenged on noise levels some officials walked away.

Lottie Jones, organiser of the Ruislip Against HS2 action group protesting outside the Exhibition said: “There were big questions they couldn’t answer. Everything from homes and businesses affected to sound insulation.”

“One example of limited information was when someone asked where the noise comes from in the trains.. The so-called expert said it was from the engines. These trains are electric – they don’t have engines.”

She added: “Someone said they were surprised at the level of intelligence in these questions. They clearly think we’re all stupid.”

Route Section Engineer Simon Hughes, at the exhibition, said the line will be 16 metres from fence to fence along the existing Chiltern Line.

Mrs Jones added: “The photo evidence is wrong. They just superimposed a line over the Chiltern Line. Their measurements are out by at least 8 metres.”

Businesses and property owners have no official information.

Mrs Jones said: “The only information people are getting is from us.”

Nick Hurd, Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner and Minister for Civil Society, has promoted the Big Society idea that people should make decisions in their own community.

“But here we are, wanting to make decisions for our own community, and the government is shouting us down and calling us Nimbies,” Mrs Jones said.

“It is so important. We are deliberately being kept in the dark,” she added.

The Heathrow spur also raises doubts. Construction will be ongoing for the next 7-10 years.

Ruislip Against HS2 started in January and has received backing from Hillingdon Council.

The Ruislip and Ickenham Roadshow is open 8am - 8pm at Winston Churchill Hall, Manor Farm site, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL.