Conservative-led Warwickshire County Council is set to take its case against HS2 railway plans to the Government.

The council is formulating its official response to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond in objecting to High Speed 2 – which would rip through Warwickshire countryside.

And a committee meeting open to the public will next week grill Government and HS2 Ltd officials.

The council is set to argue more should be done to examine alternatives to HS2 – including upgrading the West Coast main line – while it accepts rail improvements are needed to deal with overcrowding.

But the council’s draft proposals appear to challenge the anti-HS2 campaign’s claim that HS2 will be a “fast train for fat cats.”

The council released a statement saying: “HS2 Ltd, the company behind the scheme, has won support from some businesses, but in fact 70 per cent of the anticipated passengers will be leisure users.”

The council is also set to re-iterate its objections to the government’s “flawed business case” for HS2.

In February, Mr Hammond said the economic benefits of having the £32bn HS2 had already been revised downwards to £44bn. He blamed revised estimates of national economic growth.

The council’s preparation of its response to a government public consultation follows HS2 roadshow stop-offs in Warwickshire towns and villages presenting the case for a new high-speed link – initially between Birmingham and London.

The county council’s communities scrutiny committee will discuss its response to government next Thursday when government and HS2 Ltd officials will face questions from councillors, before it goes to cabinet on July 14. The council resolved to oppose HS2 in December.

Councillor John Whitehouse, communities scrutiny committee chair, said: “Members have major concerns and unanswered questions, especially around the business case and the potential impact on local communities across Warwickshire.”

The county council says it has been working with other councils opposing HS2 along the route, and action groups and HS2 Ltd to “gather data” about HS2.

Deputy council leader, councillor Bob Stevens, said specific concerns include the impact on emergency services, the severance of land and the impact on footpaths and roads.