This morning’s Cabinet reshuffle has means two new ministers in the Department for Transport, replacing Justine Greening and Theresa Villiers.
We need to make it clear to the new Secretary of State, Patrick McLoughlin, and the new Minister for Transport, Simon Burns, that HS2 is a major issue for many people and that they should cancel HS2 as soon as possible.
Please can you write or email to Patrick McLoughlin and Simon Burns to tell them why you think HS2 is a bad idea.
There are many different reasons for objecting to HS2.
If you are concerned about airport expansion, HS2 is a £33 billion white elephant that is not an alternative to a third runway at Heathrow: speculation about the third runway started almost as soon as Greening announced that she wanted to continue with HS2 in January.
HS2 is environmentally damaging: HS2 Ltd say that it will not reduce carbon and will only 3% of passengers will have transferred from air travel. In contrast a quarter of HS2 passengers will be travelling simply because the railway has been built.
You might want to say that 413 consultation responses had been ignored when Justine Greening made her January announcement – including Stop HS2’s campaign manager Joe Rukin’s personal response, and responses from HS2 Action Alliance, Cherwell District Council (a member of 51m), and Heathrow Hub – all parties to the Judicial Reviews later this year.
You might point out that the HS2 Ltd sent out their Report on the Scope and Methodology of the Environmental Impact Assessment today, in a panicked attempt by HS2 Ltd to make it public before the new ministers in the Department for Transport had had a chance to review it.
Even if you wrote to Justine Greening or Philip Hammond, it is important to write to Patrick McLoughlin and Simon Burns to let them know that if he continues with the HS2 plan, we will continue to oppose it with the same determination we have already shown towards Philip Hammond and Justine Greening.
So if you oppose HS2, please, please write to Mr McLoughlin or Mr Burns, as soon as possible, copying in your MP, and help stop this £33 billion white elephant.
Patrick McLoughlin
Email address patrick.mcloughlin@dft.gsi.
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
Simon Burns:
Email address: burnss@parliament.uk
The Rt Hon Simon Burns
Minister of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
Thank you for writing to them.
PS The last new appointment in the Dft is Stephen Hammond as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport.
Why does the Government think building houses and roads etc along with a high speed rail link will do anything to improve the economy? Houses for sale on staying on the market for months, new office blocks stand empty. One investment that would really help large and small business is high speed internet access. This will enable small business to do much more marketing online and increse orders, will enable large business to make greater use of video conferencing etc etc. It makes so much more sense as it will benefit everyone.
Let’s not forget Cheryl Gillan. Now that she has lost her job as Secretary of State for Wales, perhaps she could be reminded to focus on the greatest concern for her constituents – HS2.