Telegraph: Officials in charge of HS2 have already spent £300m
The full extent of a multimillion-pound spending spree embarked upon by officials in charge of the HS2 rail scheme can be disclosed.
Sunday Times: Business letters: HS2 chief is on the wrong track
SUPPORTERS of HS2 will have been delighted to hear Alison Munro’s arrogant confidence that people “will have to get used to the fact this is going to happen”, though opponents may be reassured that ambitious plans to straighten the Thames in east London in the 18th century never came to anything either.
Birmingham Mail: Fire service HQ in Birmingham under threat from HS2 plan
The planned HS2 high speed rail link between London and Birmingham could see firefighters moved from their Nechells headquarters, less than five years after the fire service moved there.
The HS2 company has announced its intention to compulsory purchase the 150-space car park and rear yard of the West Midlands Fire Service HQ in Vauxhall Road, and the fire service has warned that this will have a serious impact on vehicle access to essential equipment, the operational warehouse and distribution centre.
Chamberlain Files: Our support for HS2 ‘hasn’t been bought’ says Birmingham Chamber
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has rejected a suggestion that its support for high speed rail is in any way influenced by the fact that it is being paid by the HS2 company.
The Chamber received £14,400 from HS2 Ltd between September 2013 and August 2014.
The money was described as a ‘patronage fee’ in accounts released to the Tax Payers’ Alliance(TPA) following a Freedom of Information Act request.
Nottingham Post: Minister hears concerns over high-speed rail
The Transport Secretary met a dozen constituents to discuss concerns relating to properties affected by the proposed route close to Strelley Village, Trowell and Nuthall.
Miss Soubry said: “I am very grateful to Patrick for holding this unique event, which I believe was highly valued by constituents.
Express and Star: HS2 rail link has cost £300m already before single track is laid
More than £300 million has already been spent on the controversial HS2 rail link in less than three years, new figures have revealed.
Expenditure has ranged from staff wages and public relations to a promotional video and iPad covers for staff.
The spending was revealed by the TaxPayers’ Alliance which analysed the accounts of HS2 Limited, the taxpayer-funded company set up to develop the line.
South China Morning Post: Chinese investors should avoid Britain’s rotten egg rail project
After factoring in perceived gains and high costs against the envisaged benefits, getting on board high-speed railway may not be a good idea
Peak FM: Campaigners: “HS2 could destroy Chesterfield Canal redevelopment”
Members of the Chesterfield Canal Trust have expressed their concerns over the proposed route of the HS2 high speed rail link.
Birmingham Mail: Minister’s fury over ‘misleading’ information to residents affected by HS2
David Lidington complained 800 pages of environmental assessment were missing and inaccurate letter has added to uncertainty
A Conservative minister has expressed anger over “misleading” information to residents affected by the HS2 high-speed rail project, which is to connect London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
KCFM: Stephen Parnaby criticises Britain’s HS2 project
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader believes that the high-speed rail scheme isn’t the best option for the UK.
The Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council says that high-speed rail isn’t the right option for Britain.
Leamington Courier: HS2 and housing threat to village
Long Itchington residents have met to discuss the impact the HS2 high-speed rail project will have on the village both during and after its construction.
More than 100 villagers attended an ‘awareness’ meeting at the community centre on Monday where concerns were raised about the proposals which could lead to the removal of a road to the north of the Welsh Road near Offchurch, which is regularly used by people in Long Itchington.
Crewe Chronicle: Crewe Station will not close if new hub station is built, council leader says
Cheshire East leader Michael Jones hit out angrily at Labour councillors yesterday and denied Crewe Station would be closed if a new hub station is built.
Cllr Jones said the exact location of the new Crewe hub station had not yet been decided but insisted the existing station would form part of an integrated rail system and would connect Crewe.
Bucks Free Press: HS2 campaigns lead to Parliamentary Award nominations for Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan
CHERYL Gillan has been nominated for two prizes in the annual Parliamentary Awards for her work campaigning against HS2.
Colleagues nominated the Chesham and Amersham MP for Environmental Campaigner of the Year and Transport Campaigner of the Year in the Dods Parliamentary Awards.
Wigan Today: MP demands rethink over HS2 maintenance depot
A LOCAL MP is joining residents to demand the Government thinks again on plans for a major new train maintenance depot in the borough.
Yorkshire Post: Villagers taking on Government in bid to derail multi-billion pound HS2 plan
In the months since the announcement, the villagers in Church Fenton feel they have been stonewalled by Ministers and been deliberately misled by HS2 Ltd which ran a series of roadshows in areas likely to be affected by the line. They say the artist’s impressions designed by the company failed to show the full height of the viaduct at Church Fenton and describe the soundbooth they brought with them as an insult to their intelligence.
Passenger Transport: HS2 and the dialogue of the deaf – a response
In his article in the last issue of Passenger Transport, George Muir sought to knock down a list of “key objections” to HS2 – as he describes it, “eight bad arguments against the project”. I’m afraid his arguments are that of the zealot, and don’t stand up to critical analysis. To respond to his points in the order in the original article:
Camden New Journal: HS2 letters sent to one of capital’s wealthiest areas spark fresh homes panic
HS2 bosses have caused uproar in one of the wealthiest areas of London after sending letters to more than 200 homes and businesses warning they may “acquire or use” their land.
Ian Visits: Why it will take 6,000 dead goats to build the HS2 Railway
If, or when the High Speed 2 railway is constructed, it will require roughly 6,000 dead goats.
This curious statement comes from an old technicality as Acts of Parliament, when passed into law are still printed on vellum, which is typically made from goat skins.