HOMES and communities in Warrington are under threat by the proposed new HS2 high-speed train route according to MP Helen Jones.
She describes the Government assessment of the impact of HS2 as “ludicrous” and said the plan looks like it was “worked out on the back of an envelope.”
The Warrington North MP (pictured) says she asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment has been made of the economic effects of the HS2 route on Warrington. The Minister said it was the intention of the department “to carry out a review into the effects in due course.”
In response to another question the Minister said that only 21 properties in Warrington North would be demolished, four of which were residential. No estimates had been made on the number of properties which may be affected in other ways.
Ms Jones said: “These answers are simply ludicrous. These initial proposals have been announced without any analysis of the impact on communities.
“The Minister knows how many properties are in danger of demolition but not how many other properties will be affected in other ways, for example planning blight. This is the sort of detail people would expect to be readily available. What other details have been left to be assessed at a future date? People’s homes and communities are under threat and these plans leave them hanging without proper answers.”
She was “astonished” that the Department for Transport could not give an assessment of the economic benefits or otherwise to Warrington of the HS2 route.
“These answers show all the signs of a plan which is being worked out on the back of an envelope – it is simply not good enough,” she said.
2 Comments
The business case for HS2 is unsound. The ecological benefits are not what we have been led to believe. What we in Warrington need is an efficient, inexpensive train service with seating for all passengers. The only way to get that will be to upgrade the WCML properly this time. There is the capacity on the existing network if it is done properly.
Our present railways are the most expensive in civilized Europe. If HS2 ever gets above the back of an envelope scheme, it will be even more expensive. That is why the business case is based in most passengers being in the £81,000 pa salary bracket. Those who use our present costly, fault ridden rail system will have to pay even more to help fund HS2. This is what happened when HS1 was up and running.
Totally agree Tina, HS2 should be dead in the water.
What’s also ludicrous is that Helen Jones won’t come out and declare that she is in fact in favour of HS2.
This harebrained scheme needs to be stopped in its tracks. It is only right that the local MP should respond to her constituents legitimate concerns and oppose the plan. Unfortunately Helen Jones doesn’t share the local concerns.
Bill Cash, Stone MP, has already held 4 public meetings to discuss HS2, the best Helen can do is to keep issuing press statements to make us all think she is being proactive. Come on Helen, organise a public meeting so we can all find out what you really think and believe.