THE refusal of the Government to push for Eurostar services to be restored in Ashford has angered MP Damian Green who says they are shirking their responsibility.

Speaking after the debate with Transport Minister Tom Harris on Wednesday, Mr Green said he was disappointed with the meeting.

He said: "I am disappointed the Government isn’t going to question Eurostar’s assumptions. They have a responsibility to question them because of the public money which has gone into it.

"He seems to have accepted Eurostar’s view."

Since the announcement that services from Paris to Ashford would be slashed by more than half and the Brussels service cut, councillors and businesses across the borough have been demanding Eurostar rethink their decision.

The changes are expected to come in when the new £100million Ebbsfleet station opens next year.

But at the debate, which was also attended by Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard, Mr Green said he did not believe his concerns had been taken on board.

"I made the point that it was legitimate for the Government to take a view and try to persuade Eurostar to change its mind.

"Eurostar’s decision would damage the Government’s regeneration policy in Ashford, damage their environmental policy because more people would be driving to Ebbsfleet and damage their transport policies.

"It doesn’t mean that I am giving up; we will keep fighting."

Earlier this month Mr Green, Mr Howard and the leaders of Ashford and Shepway councils called a crisis meeting with Eurostar bosses to ask that the Brussels service be restored.

Mr Green will meet again with Eurostar in the coming weeks to discuss the survey on which Eurostar based its decision.