Open letter calls for review into HS2 costs
An open letter has been sent out by campaigners calling for HS2 to be paused while a comprehensive review into its costs and tendering process is carried out.
It comes after the company behind the high speed railway said the majority of construction HGVs will be travelling from the A51 and turning onto the A525 at Woore, near Market Drayton.
The construction traffic will be using the routes from 8am until 6pm weekdays and 8am until 1pm on Saturday, which has sparked concerns from local residents and Market Drayton town councillors.
The letter, written by the TaxPayers' Alliance, has been sent to Lilian Greenwood, who has been elected as the new chair of the transport select committee in the House of Commons.
The letter states: "This project is deeply unpopular and has managed to garner opposition to it from across the political spectrum. As recently as January this year, the treasury select committee raised concerns about HS2's lack of economic rationale. This was the latest in a long line of critical reports from public bodies.
"While new infrastructure is needed, a project with a questionable business case, outdated technology and serous environmental implications needs to be properly scrutinised before more taxpayers' money is committed to it.
"In 2011 the Department of Transport estimated the project would cost approximately £32 billion. The latest official estimate of the cost is £55.7 billion. Despite this, the Government continues to claim the project will be delivered on budget.
"The business case for HS2 is poor. Economists have questioned almost every aspect of the Government's case.
"Ultimately, we would like the project to be cancelled outright, but the concerns outlined are reason enough for even the most ardent supporters of the project to support a comprehensive review."
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, Shropshire Council chiefs and representatives from the high speed rail scheme will be attending a public meeting later this month.
It will take place at Woore Victory Hall on Friday at 7pm.
A spokesman for HS2 said: “The peak of the construction activity will generate daily construction traffic flows of 274 HGVs northbound and 274 HGVs southbound on A51 London Road from A53 Newcastle Road to A525 Bar Hill.
“However the duration of this peak is proposed to be for two months with construction traffic flows reducing substantially outside of these two months for the remainder of the construction period.”
A consultation on the plans will run until September 30.
