Saturday 2 March 2013

Welcome

Welcome to Colton Against HS2 a web blog to inform people in Colton Parish about the proposed HS2 development which passes through the parish.

If you do little else read all this article to see what we are up against - yes it affects you.

Phase 1 Whittington to Handsacre Community Forum 28 Feb 2013

HS2 Ltd, in Phase 1, have a structure of meetings with representatives from sections of the proposed route, such as Whittington or Kings Bromley, to discuss and receive suggestions about the route its possible problems  and how this route can be mitigated.  The individual meetings are then consolidate by the Community Form, this one chaired by an official from Lichfield District Council.

I can only sum this meeting up as totally depressing.  I will not go through the detail of its content as it was specific, in the main part, to phase 1 but does have an impact on phase 2.  This being that a small part of the phase 2 line will be constructed at the same time as that for phase 1.  This I can only say is a sound strategy as far as engineering is concerned!

The meeting was depressing as HS2 Ltd appeared not to take into consideration much that was suggested by those directly affected.  Suggestions for mitigation, alterations and changes tabled in the first such Community meeting in April 2102 had not been considered or resolved.  The situation was similar for subsequent meetings.   HS2 Ltd were causing a significant amount of anger because of this.  Only belatedly are they coming out with engineering changes to mitigate disruption, noise etc.  They want to finalise the proposed route for the SoS in March.  Thus the Community feels it has been ignored and mislead.  There were numerous examples of hardship and problems which had not been considered or acted upon.

What came out of the meeting was that the extent of disruption to the route was extensive.  Maps of the route displayed indicated that between Whittington and Handsacre 150m on each side of the track was being taken up for 'landscaping'.  False cuttings were being considered to reduce the noise levels.  Embankments would be raised above the level of the track so that the trains would be in a cutting within the embankment.  One would still be able to see the gantry's and part of the trains.

Hence vast areas of agricultural land would be taken up as the slope of the 'embankments' would have to be gradual.

Balancing ponds would have to be built in places so as to mitigate the '1 in 1000 years' heavy rainfall and allow the excess water to run off slowly.  

Large areas of land would be needed for the construction work.  These for the top soil and under soil to be stored and processed, for building materials, for building offices and even for workers accommodation.  This latter part may be offset by housing the workers in local hotels etc.  (Remember that construction will take 7 years or more in total).

Access to main roads will be required for construction traffic.  The route itself will only be used to build the line in the latter stages.  All Civil Engineering work will use roads.  Some roads will be closed permanently.

The proposed merging of HS2 into WCML at Handsacre is horrendous.  

Phase 2 will go through the same procedure.  The Government's intended preferred route will be subject to 'Full Public Consultation'.  (If Phase 1 experience here is taken into account we have a hard fight on our hands. The only consolation is that we can draw upon the Phase 1).

There will be 2km viaduct past Kings Bromley, a large cutting past Blithbury and houses will be within 70m of the line in Stockwell Heath.  The line will be elevated past Great Haywood and it is acknowledged that this will be a high noise area.  The protected salt marshes, the only one in the country, north of Great Haywood have been protected.

HS2 Ltd would pay £250 towards legal fees for land registration which required solicitors assistance.

The government is proposing a 'Paving Bill' which when enacted will enable more detailed design to take place.  This being prior to the Hybrid Bill.  It will then be in a position to obtain the necessary land and start preliminary work.

The Hybrid Bill gives outlined consent.  Lichfield District Council will then co-operate with the community and HS2 Ltd as the Bill progresses.

Our local MP was criticised over not attending these Community meetings so as to gauge the anger, frustration and annoyance of his constituents.

In conclusion it appears that these Community Forums are NOT a dialogue.  The community have raised many points of mitigation etc since April 2012.  Few have been taken up - mitigation has not been considered.  There was total frustration on the part of the community and total action on the part of HS2 Ltd.

I have asked the HS2 organiser of this meeting to inform me of the next one.

MEMBERS OF COLTON ACTION GROUP NEED TO ATTEND IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR PHASE 2.

I have also indicated that Colton Village Hall could be used for meetings in phase 2.