Primrose Hill residents victory over new high-speed rail link delay

Published: 20 May, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

PRIMROSE Hill residents have scored a victory against a “fundamentally flawed” scheme designed to compensate people living near the new high-speed rail link – after the deadline was extended by a month.
Today (Thursday) was set to be the last day residents could apply to the Department of Transport-led Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS).

It was set up by High Speed Two (HS2), the  company created by the last government to work on the super-fast line between London and Birmingham, in response to residents’ fears over noise disturbance, damage to homes and plunging property prices.
But following complaints over the “shameful lack of consultation”, newly appointed Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has pushed the deadline back to June 17. This gives residents four more weeks to comment on the plans.

The move is being hailed as a victory by campaigners, who questioned the validity of the consultation after residents were given just nine weeks to respond – breaking government guidelines that specify at least 12 weeks.
Peter Jones, of the Primrose Hill HS2 reference group, which was set up to fight the plans, said: “We are grateful that people who may be affected by the Euston route have been given a decent and proper opportunity to comment on the EHS.

“This small victory, however, is far outweighed by a complete lack of transparency or consultation on any other routes. Despite widespread criticism by transport experts and our own MP, Euston remains the only route under consideration. We hope that this regrettable circumstance will soon be addressed.”
The announcement by HS2 comes a week after eminent QC Richard Millet, also a member of the group, wrote to the Department for Transport asking for the deadline to be extended.

In his letter he expressed alarm that residents had not been contacted by HS2. Many only became aware of a  proposed tunnel when a company of private compensation specialists offered to help them sell their homes.
Mr Millet said: “It is not acceptable that members of communities such as ours should have to find out about a major government project, which directly affects them, in this way.

“This is all the more unacceptable when the government has already adopted and published its own preferences about the route without any consultation with, or even warning to, local residents affected.”
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We have taken the decision in the light of a number of representations that argue there wasn’t a sufficient amount of time for everyone to have the fullest opportunity to comment on the proposals.”

The Primrose Hill HS2 reference group are urging residents to write to the Department of Transport. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of Mr Millet’s letter can email the group at info@PHHS2referencegroup.org