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Chiltern Society HS2 newsletter
June 2011
The key issues this month relate to responding to the Consultation and the evidence given to the Transport Select Committee inquiry into the Economics of HS2.
On the environmental front, a very rare bat has been found on the route. There are a number of reports on Hammond & Cameron.
Consultation
The Consultation finishes on 29 July 2011. Please ensure that you respond in time to this.
The DfT now say that if you have submitted your response, but wish to add more you need to submit this in writing or by e-mail confirming that it is an addition to your original response.
To respond to the Consultation you can respond either on a preprinted form or by e-mail. This link takes you direct to the electronic form. The preprinted form can be obtained by contacting the DfT on Telephone: 0300 321 1010. or you can access it as a PDF file on their website.
If you need some help in completing the response, the following links will help:
Chiltern Society Guidance Notes
Chiltern Countryside Group See half way down on left of screen for link to document.
HS2 Action Alliance
South Northants Action Group An on line form which will be sent electronically.
Please remember:
• Use your own words
• Rational arguments are much more effective
• Answer the question first, then give your reasons
• The questions are designed to get a YES answer.
We would also ask you to contact friends and family away from the line, and ask them to respond to the Consultation. Arguments which might persuade them are:
• The total cost in 2009 was forecast to be £32bn. The actual spend will be closer to £65bn
• This will cost £51m for every constituency
• This will cost £1,000 per family in the UK
• It sounds attractive to bridge the North/South Divide, but HS2 will only reach Leeds and Manchester in 2036
• There are upgrades to the existing infrastructure, which will deliver the same capacity, but at substantially less cost
• The benefits are based on people not working on trains.
Transport Select Committee – Inquiry into High Speed Rail
A number of interesting things have been happening during June.
The Transport Select Committee (TSC) has published an independent report by consultants Oxera, and has been taking oral evidence. The Oxera report concentrates on the economic case, and suggests questions for the TSC to ask. These cover:
What the HS2 proposal is being assessed against
• The case for extra capacity
• The quantified benefits delivered
• The degree of non-monetised impacts
• Scheme costs
• Who benefits
In particular they question:
• The value of time. See 3.5-3.8.
• What alternative rail demand forecasting frameworks have been tested. 3.14
• The setting of the demand cap. 3.16
• The impact of higher and lower fares increase. In 3.18 they point out that fare increases of RP! + 2% reduce the BCR to 0.9
• Whether the relative degree of planned disruption between HSR and Classic has been assessed. 3.27
• How have the cost estimates of the savings on the conventional network been estimated – 3.30
• The robustness of the WEI calculations – 3.36
• Valuation of the Environmental Impacts including Carbon 3.42 – 3.44 and Landscape Value – 3.46
• Adverse economic impact on cities not on HSR – 3. 49 – 3.52
I trust that the above gives you a taste of the Report. You can access the report (a PDF) in parliament.uk's website.
The TSC is currently taking oral evidence. The links below take you to this.
21 June 2011
Evidence from rail experts
More on parliament.uk
Some clear points come out of this:
1. Nearly all the expert witnesses stress the need to continue investment in the existing infrastructure. '2026 is a very long time to wait for a train'.
2. SNCF said that currently the maximum number of trains per hour on SNCF was 12, with a conceivable maximum of 14 to 15.
3. A lot of concern was expressed about how freight capacity would be delivered.
28 June 2011
Evidence from pro HS2 groups
More on parliament.uk
12 July 2011
Evidence from anti HS2 groups
A direct link is not currently available but may be found later under 'Publications' at parliament.uk
Submissions
The written submissions are on line, including that made by the Chiltern Society. More at parliament.uk
Some other interesting items from the TSC inquiry have hit the headlines.
Daily Telegraph – 21 June 2011
Cheryl Gillan speaks to Transport Select Committee. More at telegraph.co.uk
Daily Telegraph – 21 June 2011
TSC consultants Oxera raise doubts about Economic Case. More at telegraph.co.uk
BBC News – 12 July 2011
This item about Healing the North South Divide relates to a report to the TSC by Prof John Tomaney. More at bbc.co.uk
51M
51M is a group of Borough, County and District Councils who have formed an Alliance to fight HS2.
All the Councils in Bucks are members. The fighting fund is now substantially in excess of £1m. Visit their website
TSC Enquiry
Martin Tett, leader of Bucks County Council gave oral evidence on behalf of 51M to the TSC Inquiry on 12 June. Uxbridge Gazette – 14 June 2011.
HS2 in Court
Hillingdon Council leader to battle HS2 at European Court. Hillingdon is part of 51M. More at uxbridgegazette.co.uk
Economic Case
Recently the DfT / HS2 Ltd issued 'corrections' to the data already published.
These changes mainly relate to the growth rate used and slightly improve the BCR. More (a PDF) at highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk
Valuing Nature
This is an interesting article, which highlights how we take the natural environment for granted. Guardian – 2 June 2011. More at guardian.co.uk
Environmental Case
In May 2011, Bechstein's bats, one of Britain's rarest mammals, have been found living in ancient woods either side of the proposed HS2 (high speed rail) route in north Buckinghamshire.
These bats are protected under EU law. This demonstrates the weakness of not carrying out a full Environmental Impact Assessment ahead of the Consultation. See the article in the Society's HS2 June News
Bats and Disturbance
This article at hewitsons.com gives some background on disturbance of protected creatures under EU law.
Ancient Buildings to be impacted by HS2
See article on page 7 of Cornerstone, the magazine for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings about buildings to be impacted. More at yudu.com
Chiltern Society DVD
The society has produced a DVD showing the impact of HS2 on the Chilterns, and highlighting the Economic impact for the Country.
The voice over is by Geoffrey Palmer. This has been sent to every MP in the country. You can see it on this link. It is also available for purchase from the Society for £5.70 including post and packing.
If you have not already done so, we would encourage you to ask your friends and family away from the line to write to their MP asking whether they have seen the DVD, and whether they think their constituency will benefit from the expenditure of £32bn.
To find their MP they can visit findyourmp.parliament.uk
McNulty Report
Last month I reported that Sir Roy McNulty, a respected transport manager, has produced a report for the Government on how to deal with overcrowding on the railways.
This link takes you to the report, which is a PDF.
Opposition to HS2 grows
Here is a selection of reports
Bucks Examiner
Chiltern 100s No to HS2
IBB Solicitors
Ruislip Residents Homes Threatened
YouTube
HS2 Consultation in Southam
Camden New Journal
Camden Politicians united against HS2
Daily Telegraph – 2 July 2011
Boris objects to HS2. Transport for London estimate £9bn second Crossrail line needed to cope with HS2. More at telegraph.co.uk
Guardian – 30 June 2011
Nimby to True Sceptic
Hammond says the Cost
of HS2 will be less than £33bn
Mr Hammond has recently started talking about selling off HS2 even before it is built. Financial Times – 24 June 2011.
Hammond says cost will be well below £33bn as the railway will be sold off. More at ft.com
RMT against Hammond's plan to sell off HS2. Rail.co – 27 June 2011. More at rail.co
Comments on Hammond's article. ifw – 28 June 2011. More at ifw.net
Letter in the Telegraph – Small Communities affected. More at telegraph.co.uk
Cameron states his support for HS2
Has David Cameron put his foot in his mouth again? We have heard his soothing words about a proper consultation and listening to people, and then he comes out with this. Birmingham Post – 30 June 2011
Cameron Supports HS2
More at
birminghampost.net
Cameron prepared to sacrifice
the Shires for seats in the North
More at independent.co.uk
Parliament
Recently there have been a number of debates/questions in Parliament. e-politi.com – 23 June 2011
Departmental Questions
Hammond states that HS2 will close the North South Divide. More at uk.news.yahoo.com
East Coast Rail Deal 'Cost Tax Payers £30m'
Termination of East Cost Franchise creates a moral hazard. More at huffingtonpost.co.uk
Communities and Local Government
This report seems to be in conflict with the Government's desire to push through HS2 in that it proposes that local communities will be able to nominate green spaces to be protected. More at communities.gov.uk
South West hears the opposition to HS2
More at thisisdevon.co.uk
Adrian Sanders MP clashes with Philip Hammond
More at adriansanders.org
On the Lighter side
Is this the Way to Protest?
If the final decision is to go ahead with HS2, should we draw a lesson from Italy, where local residents are seeking to protect an AONB. This BBC news article shows demonstrators against new High Speed tunnel in the Alps.
Hornby win Contract to Produce HS2
Visit newsbiscuit.com to read the article.
China and railways
This item at wimp.com shows a train in China going through a market.
Daily Telegraph 13 June
Report on row at Roadshow, plus Y will go through George Osborne's constituency. Read it at telegraph.co.uk
Chequers Walk
The protest walk around Chequers continues. People are walking everyday and posting blogs and photographs.
We would like more people to take part. If you would like to take part, for details, contact Trish at the Chiltern Society on 01494 771250 or e-mail HS2@chilternsociety.org.uk
The walk will continue daily until the end of the Consultation on 29 July 2011. I can personally recommend it, the scenery is stunning. If you make the effort to climb Coombe Hill, you can see where HS2 is planned to skirt Wendover.
On Friday 29 July, there will be a final walk around the estate, starting at 10am from the car park at Coombe Hill.
If there are other areas you would like us to cover please contact John at .
John Gladwin
HS2 Campaign Action Team
