No to HS2

Published: 5 May, 2011

• WE oppose proposals for High Speed 2 as they currently stand. 

In scrutiny committee we voted against HS2 for failing to mitigate the impact of its disruption on our communities and in particular the threat it causes to our social tenants.

The HS2 proposal as its stands involves enormous upheaval in Regent’s Park, Kilburn, Camden Town with Primrose Hill and Belsize wards. Six council blocks could be demolished in Regent’s Park to allow for an expansion of Euston station. The blocks targeted by HS2 are Ainsdale, Eskdale, Silverdale, Stalbridge, Tintern House and Richmond House. In addition to some houses on Park Village East, Mornington Terrace and shops and houses on Drummond Street.

HS2’s proposals further entail tunnelling under Alexandra and Ainsworth estate, most of which is grade II* listed building accommodating over 500 families. Construction of ventilation shafts on Langtry Walk and Adelaide Road, which will involve demolition of housing and shops.

The representatives of HS2 were not prepared to give any undertaking on potential incentives for wards like Kilburn and Belsize in order to mitigate the impact of the disruptions posed on these wards.

The scheme fails to consider the logistics of decanting all of Camden’s social tenants when their estates are demolished. The housing situation in Camden is already strained, decanting more than six council blocks, in addition to the houses on the street properties in Drummond Street to make for an extended Euston station will inevitably assert pressure on any land that Camden holds for housing. Tenants and leaseholders will be left high and dry, with the real possibility that they will be forced from the borough with little prospect of return.

Hundreds will be displaced by the scheme, upsetting the social mix we have so proudly maintained in Camden.

We therefore urge all councillors to follow our lead and oppose HS2’s proposals as they currently hold.

COUNCILLORS SEAN BIRCH, MARYAM ESLAMDOUST, ROGER ROBINSON, SAMATA KHATOON (Labour) & LINDA CHUNE (Lib Dem)