Richard Barnes on BBC London News, 30th Sep 2014:
Archives
“HS2 is the biggest transport outrage of them all”
UKIP’s Transport Spokesman, Jill Seymour MEP, speaking at UKIP’s annual conference, Doncaster, 27th September 2014. From BBC Parliament.
Mixed Messages, uncertain timings
The timing of the Phase 2 announcement for HS2 is becoming more uncertain by the day.
Two weeks ago, the Warrington Guardian announced HS2 route decision will be made in autumn says minister.
But last week, Andrew Bridgen, North West Leicestershire MP, told the BBC that he had been warned that it might be a year before the Phase 2 route was announced.
So which report is right?
The Warrington Guardian quoted Mr Robert Goodwill, the Transport Minster, who spoke about the timing in the Westminster Hall debate on HS2 and Warrington:
“We have consulted on that route and received more than 10,000 responses, including one from my hon. Friend, all of which are being carefully analysed. Let me be clear. No decisions have yet been taken on the route or station options. The Secretary of State has committed to respond to the phase 2 consultation by the end of the year, and that remains his intention. He will make an announcement in the autumn.”
But as we’ve come to realise, “an announcement” is not the same as the specifics of the route. There have been numerous delays with major HS2 announcements – see for example
- Delayed to 2013: More delays for HS2 as ‘cracking on’ becomes ‘cracking up’, but no—one tells HS2 Ltd.
- Delay Confirmed on HS2 Compensation Consultation.
- Delayed to 2012: Justine Greening to delay HS2 announcement decision
Meanwhile Andrew Bridgen said said HS2 chairman David Higgins had briefed MPs last week that he did not expect the intended route to be announced for another 12 months. This would be after next year’s general election, and possibly not until September 2015.
If the announcement is delayed – don’t say we didn’t warn you.
“I can’t move in with you, London”
“Please don’t send the long arms of your proposed high speed railway line stretching this way. They’d only pull me in, make me part of your circle, drain the life out of me.”
“I can’t move in with you, London” by Simon Armitage
Boris on HS2 – in 2012
In 2012, Boris Johnson visited Ruislip to see Stop HS2 campaigners there. The benefit cost ratio has gone done since then, so given that the business case was doubtful then, it has got even worse since.
Report from ITV London News, Wed 11th Jan 2012
NW Tory wants to do best for north and stop HS2
In the Greater Manchester marginal constituency of Bury North, its Conservative MP speaks out against HS2. http://davidnuttall.info/2013/11/03/hs2/
Mocking HS2 Again
HS2 has been cropping up again on the comedy circuit, so we’ve updated our playlist
HS2 jobs claims pulled apart
Penny Gaines, Stop HS2 Chair, pulls apart claims made about HS2 and jobs, LBC Radio, 22nd Jul 2014
Yorkshire clearly doesn’t want HS2 (again)
On Radio 4s ‘Any Questions’ last week the idea of the North rivalling London came up again. Poet Simon Armitage had an idea which went down very well with the audience
Keep the country safe by scrapping HS2
John Baron MP secures a debate on defence spending and says the UK is making grave errors in cutting defence spending. Here he suggests where cuts should be made to allow the UK to be able to afford its essential defence requirements. House of Commons, 19th June 2014.