HS2 challenges rejected by court
A Hitachi Class 395 Javelin train as it passes through Ashford, Kent, using the HS1 high-speed rail line.
The High Court has rejected 9 out of 10 challenges made against HS2 phase one (from London to Birmingham).
The challenges were brought to court by a number of local councils and the anti HS2 action alliance, about the way in which the route had been selected for the London to Birmingham line and about the environmental impact.
The final decision to start building HS2 will depend on a Hybrid Bill being agreed by Parliament and this will not be before the end of the year.
A challenge about the way in which a consultation about compensation for property owners was carried out was upheld.
Commenting on this part of the decision MP for Selby and Ainsty Nigel Adams said: “It is right that property owners do not suffer a financial loss and that they understand the range of compensation schemes.
“The consultation process for London to Birmingham did not make this as clear as it should have and the Government has decided that it will redo the consultation.
“It has been my position since HS2 was announced that I am in favour of the project in principle, but this should not be at the expense of people who live near to the proposed route.
“While some people are questioning the overall benefit of the project we have to remember that the present railway network was built around 150 years ago and the scope for making improvements by a “make do and mend” approach is severely limited.
“This is about planning for the future and Yorkshire needs to be well connected with the rest of the UK to ensure our long term prosperity.
“The cost might sound like a lot of money but the spend would be spread over 20 year. You would then expect that a new railway of this standard would be delivering benefits for the next 100 or more years.”
The announcement on January 28 of this year revealed the Initial Preferred Route for the new line coming across from Leeds going north of Garforth and joining the existing railway at Church Fenton.
This is an initial proposal and later this year there will be an opportunity for people to make comments on the route and the final decision will not be made until late 2014 when these comments have all been assessed.
The current proposal includes a viaduct close to homes in Church Fenton.
This has caused a great deal of concern but detailed plans which avoid the need for the viaduct have already been submitted to HS2 for their consideration.
There will be a full public consultation on the route later this year.
This is a very large project, the largest civil engineering project ever undertaken in the UK and there will be no final decisions until people have had an opportunity to make their views known - and this includes consultation about compensation scheme for property owners as well as the details of the route.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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