Town Hall has doubts on HS2 - Rail project concern as services are cut

Published: 03 February 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

TOWN Hall bosses have admitted they are sceptical over the need for a new high-speed rail line running through Camden.

Labour’s environment chief Councillor Sue Vincent told the New Journal there are increasing concerns at Camden Council over whether the £30billion High Speed Two (HS2) project can be justified at a time when frontline services are being slashed across the board.

Her doubts over the proposed super-fast link between Euston and Birmingham come as transport experts including Christian Wolmar and other notable figures prepare to speak at a national convention  against the government’s plans in Warwickshire on February 19.

Cllr Vincent said: “What we need to know is, does it stack up at this particular time to spend billions of pounds on high-speed rail when we are reducing our services to people who are vulnerable? The devil’s in the detail, but so far we haven’t been provided with enough information to be able to study any of the detail. A significant number of council homes stand to be demolished, and, as the council, we haven’t received any of the papers that would allow us to look at this properly.”

A consultation on the controversial plans is due to begin later this month, but this week a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman was unable to confirm a date or provide any details about the process.

If approved, the project would mean the demolition of the council-owned blocks of Ainsdale, Eskdale and Silverdale, along with neighbouring Stalbridge House. 

HS2 bosses have promised to replace homes that are bulldozed to make way for the scheme, but have so far failed to identify where new properties will be located.

A number of councils along the proposed route have already come out against the scheme. Coventry City Council has voted unanimously to oppose it and Staffordshire County Council has also attacked the propo­sals.

Mr Wolmar, a former journalist regarded as one of the country’s leading commentators on transport, said: “The case for HS2 is not based on a solid business model, but rather on the desire to have a prestige line to match those in Europe. The case has weak foundations based more on emotion than rational argument and carries with it enormous risk”. 

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has called HS2 “the best long-term solution” to Britain’s transport problems, hailing its economic benefits.