Villagers urged to join forces in battle against HS2 impact
Parish councils across the Midlands have been urged to join forces in a bid to reduce the damage caused by HS2.
Campaigners impacted by the first phase of the controversial line in the south of England have warned that local areas will suffer dire consequences unless HS2 works are challenged “at every opportunity”.
As environmental campaigners near London climb trees and dig themselves into tunnels, elected councils along the route are using the tools of democracy,.
They have called on parish councils and other organisations to join together to ensure that work does not go ahead unchecked.
Phase 2a of the line, which was granted Royal Assent last month, passes through 32 miles of Staffordshire countryside, from the parish of Fradley and Streethay in Lichfield to Madeley in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The work has already seen ancient woodlands destroyed, including Little Lyntus Wood in Lichfield which has now been completely wiped out.
The route also impacts Woore in Shropshire, which is expected to see a lorry pass through it every five minutes during the line’s construction, travelling along the A51 and A525 which meet at a crossroads near the village shop.
Further down the route work is already well underway on the first phase of HS2 from London to the West Midlands.
Residents in villages south of Aylesbury say that by combining their efforts they have a greater voice when it comes to battling against issues such as increased traffic.
Jill Stiel, chair of Great Missenden Village Association in Buckinghamshire, said there were widespread fears that the area would become a “HGV rat run” with HS2 contractors using roads that were unsuitable for lorries.
She said there had been a “total lack of communication” from HS2 and claimed that congestion in the area was expected to be worse than had initially been pledged.
“The traffic on roads we are going to face is horrendous,” she said. “We’ve had a real struggle to engage with HS2 and decided to take matters into our own hands.”
The 64-year-old said seven parishes had joined together “as one voice” and were “determined to fight and ask questions”.
She added: “We’re all fighting for the same thing, which is the safety of residents and stopping HS2 from having an easy life while everyone else suffers.
“We want to challenge them at every opportunity over things like getting junctions made safe for pedestrians and school children.
“They know in that everything they do, we are watching them.”
Mrs Stiel said members were due to meet with MPs and HS2 representatives last Friday to voice their concerns over the latest plans, which include a scheme due to start next month to construct a temporary access road between two local villages.
Meanwhile in nearby Little Missenden, council leaders threw out plans for a roundabout to give HS2 contractors access to a vent shaft following concerns over congestion.
“It’s not just the route of the train, it is all around it,” Mrs Stiel added. “Everybody needs to get campaigning to hold these people to account.”
In parts of the West Midlands parishes say they are keen to work closely with HS2 to ensure any damage is minimised.
Simon Roberts, chairman of Fradley & Streethay Parish Council, said they had been working with a HS2 community engagement officer as preparation work goes on.
He said: “They are pressing on with the work and they are on the end of a phone when we need them.
“It’s not great, it is not what we wanted, but at the end of the day we have just got to work with them.”
Councillor Archie Maddocks, chairman for Armitage with Handsacre Parish Council, said there were varying views on the council about HS2, and that they were part of a steering group examining the impact of the works in the local area.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Mr Maddocks said he was “massively concerned” about the impact of groundworks, which are already underway.
“It is very visibly changing the landscape and to be honest, the destruction is greater than I would have envisaged,” he said.
“To me, it looks like the countryside is being carved up, but it has got Royal Assent and I don’t think they are going to change it.
“I personally don’t understand how the reduction in time from Lichfield to London will make any difference to my working day whatsoever.”
Most attention surrounding HS2 is currently placed on Euston Station in London, where activists have dug a tunnel believed to be 100ft long.
Dan Hooper, known as Swampy, Isla Sandford, known as Blue, and an unnamed 22-year-old activist this week left after 30 days in the tunnel in Euston Square Gardens, but others remain underground.
Speaking to the Star last month Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson said work was underway to forge stronger relationships with communities impacted by HS2.
“We are trying to improve how we deal with individual communities and land and property owners,” he said.
In a strategy for Phase 2a set out last month, HS2 laid out plans for a “high level approach” to community engagement. It it was “committed to being a good neighbour to communities affected by the project”, and vowed to keep people informed on the issues that affect them.
The strategy includes pledges to hold consultations on stages of the project “where appropriate” and to create opportunities for local communities to get involved “throughout the design and delivery of the project”.
A residents’ charter has been developed and HS2 is currently seeking West Midlands residents to sit on the Construction Commissioner Steering Group, which meets up to four times a year and monitors progress of the line.
Email community@hs2.org.uk for details. Applications close on March 26.
