Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council said: “Buckinghamshire Council has consistently opposed the building of HS2.

“Not only do we doubt the strategic case for it, but we also recognised the negative impact it would have on our local communities up and down the line.

“Now that construction has started we are seeing the devastating environmental damage to our beautiful county and we are doing our best to hold HS2 to account.

“The use of the A413/A355 for hundreds of heavy lorry movements a day for several years is a massive issue for Buckinghamshire.

“Before considering lorry route applications, the Council has to ensure that the cumulative impact of the additional HS2 HGVs on the A413/A355 will not bring Buckinghamshire to a standstill. HS2 have not provided us with the information we require to give us any reassurance on this issue.

“The lorries have the potential to impact not only on highway traffic but also the local environment in terms of noise and pollution and also on all other road users.

“It is our responsibility to help ensure that the effects of that construction traffic is minimised as much as possible.

“The proposed routes will affect communities and residents from north of Wendover all the way to Beaconsfield and Buckinghamshire Council cannot and will not approve these applications on this basis, and HS2 has been informed of our position.”