WARRINGTON Borough Council has finally come off the fence over the controversial HS2 high speed rail line.
The council’s leadership has written to multi-billion £ rail developers HS2 Ltd seeking more information about the proposed route – and asking a series of tough questions about its likely impact on the town.
Council leader Terry O’Neill (pictured) said: “Given the huge public investment involved, we must make absolutely sure HS2 delivers the maximum benefits. Warrington is one of the main engines of growth in the North West – we’re currently out-performing Manchester and Liverpool – and this needs to be taken into account when deciding the route and the stations where HS2 will stop.
“At the moment it looks as though HS2 will give Warrington all pain and little gain.
“The proposed route would cut through the borough, passing close to residential areas and going through the Taylor Business Park, yet at the same time we’ll be denied a station in Warrington.
“We’re asking some pretty searching questions because we need to make sure Warrington’s residents and businesses are being properly served.”
In principle, the council supports a high speed rail link. But they want to make sure the developers get it right.
Until now they have issued only a cautious preliminary response to the proposals.
Cllr O’Neill said: “The council is engaging very closely with HS2 Ltd and we want to reassure Warrington’s residents and businesses that we’re fighting their corner.”
Among the questions the council is asking the rail developer are:
1. What is the economic justification for the Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur versus constructing a HS2 line along the route of the existing West Coast Main Line corridor from Crewe to Wigan via Warrington Bank Quay?
2. Was this alternative considered and if not, why not?
3. What potential exists for the provision of a HS2 station at Warrington Bank Quay – potentially an interchange station where the West Coast Main Line and Liverpool to Manchester lines meet?
4. What other alternative alignments were considered affecting Warrington and why were they ruled out?
5. Could the council be supplied with a report setting out the economic impact of the proposed HS2 line specifically on the Warrington Borough Council administrative area?
6. What will the statutory compensation scheme provide in relation to the
Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur and when will it apply from?
7. Why was a location just north of Golborne chosen for a train depot and were other locations ruled out?
8. What allowance has been made in the cost of the scheme for compensation for the loss of Taylor Business Park?
9. Has consideration been given to running the line through the Risley Landfill site to avoid the Taylor Business Park?
10. When will consultation start and how long will it continue.
11. Why is there no London-Scotland service which serves Warrington Bank Quay?
12. Are there any plans to downgrade the West Coast Main Line from Crewe to Wigan?
The council calls for a written response to its questions and a further meeting with HS2 representative. They also advise that they will continue to work in close partnership with the Cheshire and Warrington Local Transport Body and Local Enterprise Partnership in order to ensure that the benefits of the HS2 proposals can be maximised for the sub-region.
Council's tough questions on HS2
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
“In principle, the council supports a high speed rail link” – why is this the case? Can the council justify support for a project that is going to cost a minimum of £45bn when there is a groundswell of public opinion that opposes HS2.
As usual, the political elite believe they know what’s best for us. In a recent national poll only 4% of people supported HS2 but the views of the vast majority are still ignored.
Yes, Warrington will get all the pain with no gain and that’s as good a reason as any to say Stop HS2. If we’re not careful we’ll sleepwalk our way into this crazy plan whilst our MPs and local politicians sit back to debate the finer points with government.
Reading yesterday´s BBC.com website(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-22479720) I came across this piece of news which provokes me to write this.
HS2 has become such a monster as to acquire a life of its own. It is now self justifying and has lost all sense of focus.
The lines from Crewe northwards are expensive, unnecessary and environmentally destroying this beautiful county of Chester.
4 tracking the whole WCML from Crewe through Warrington to Wigan (and Preston) would result in an easier, less expensive solution. What is problematic is the curvature of the WCML through Wigan North Western station (this is not a problem at Warrington Bank Quay) together with the length of the platforms for long HSR trains(400 meters is the norm).
By 4 tracking the line from Crewe through Sandbach, Holmes Chapel and Wilmslow the line can branch off left along the existing tracks into the airport to stop at the existing terminal station. Better it would make it for the line to continue west out of the airport to then turn northwards to follow the proposed line through Didsbury to Piccadilly.
Warrington´s elected leaders have to energetic in defence of Warrington´s interests.
http://trans-trax.blogspot.com.es/2013_02_01_archive.html
John, If Councillor O’Neil had not gone public residents of this town would have been quite right in condemning our political leaders for ‘sitting on the fence’ . This is not the case. Councillor O’Neill has made the case and the concerns he has and wishes his concerns to be made public. Good on Terry and keep up the good work.
Bit puzzled how the UK can afford such a project, given that it is meant to have no money, and that any return on investment will only start when the railway is fully up and running. Just been looking at a timetable and from what I can tell, currently you can travel from Warrington to London in just under two hours which seems very good to me. Fares look a bit steep, although there seem to be some good savings if you book in advance. Isn’t a ticket for the HS2 service going to be very expensive. My understanding is that when the UK first built railways, there was protest and much discussion as to where they were being built, so I guess times have not changed that much.
Why are our elected councillors taking the position that “In principle, the council supports a high speed rail link”, despite the fact that there is ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of Warrington getting an HS2 station or ANY benefits from the line – because then it would be impossible to get the trains through to the airport and on to Manchester?
Simple. They all know that if HS2 goes ahead and chops straight through the borough then there will be lots of nice lucrative positions for them on Consultation Bodies, Community Focus Groups and all the other quangos that we’ll all be forced to pay for. Basically, they’ve been bought.
Very true Inky Pete, there must be some reason why they seem intent on supporting this ridiculous project……I think you’ve hit the nail on the head!