Our city is being turned into a giant transport hub

Published: October 6, 2011

• AS a born Londoner I am sick of the city being knocked about supposedly for the benefit of everyone else from everywhere. To gain “improved” infrastructure, land is being stolen from Londoners at a great rate. It is small wonder that the remaining bits of land fetch such scandalously high prices. Crossrail alone is gobbling up many acres at each of its stops. If HS2 goes ahead that will mean yet more upheaval and the shrinkage of habitable land in London.

The last government had been incubating the HS2 project for many years, even setting up a company within government (news to me that such a thing was possible).

Announcements about HS2 were made by front-man Lord Adonis only after deliberations by that company, too late for really organised protest, just before the last general election. Front-man Philip Hammond  was doubtless more than happy to continue with the plans which were far-advanced by 2010.

Reasons given to the public are that we should keep up with speed of travel (only the “keeping up” is with much bigger countries, their rail journeys covering much greater distances), that Midlands businesses need faster rail links, and that old chestnut of a reduction in road traffic. The fact that certain people have had privileged information for years, paid for by the taxpayer, is not mentioned. 

Brownfield sites will be created all along the route of HS2. Call me cynical, but that fact has probably already been noted by those in the know.

I believe that HS1 has recently been sold to a foreign company. I dare say that in the fullness of time HS2 could be sold, which perhaps is another reason why governments welcome these big infrastructure projects.

Taxpayers pay for a project and suffer the construction nuisance. High fare prices will be set, then there is a profitable line to be sold when it is finished. Too bad about the smashing up of communities in the meantime!

Every last drop is being squeezed out of London, aided and abetted by the government and the Mayor of London. Eventually the town will be nothing but a massive interchange, with expensive houses, flats and offices on the land between the road and rail links.
June Gibson,
Chandos Way, NW11