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Chiltern Society HS2 newsletter
September 2010
Although there was no publicity about it, HS2 Ltd’s new recommendations about an expanded nationwide high speed rail network “linking in” Heathrow and HS2 are now thought to be on the desk of Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary. Now, Mr Hammond and his officials at the Department for Transport will study them before drafting recommendations to be put to the Cabinet, and then announced next month.
Mr Hammond may give a clue to his thinking at the Conservative Party Conference in the first week of October, but it is thought he will not give details of the national route recommendations and the public consultation arrangements until after the announcement of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20.
In the meantime Mr Hammond was widely rumoured to have made a visit to the Chilterns during August to look at the area for himself, but without talking to any campaigners, so far as we are aware.
Exceptional Hardship Scheme
The Government launched its amended Exceptional Hardship Scheme on 20 August and people who wish to apply or find out if they are eligible should follow this link.
The launch of the scheme provided an opportunity for publicity and there was good coverage, particularly on radio and television. The Chiltern Society was among the groups who were interviewed and we were all able to get over the point that the scheme was not comprehensive enough. Interviewees were also able to point out that many questions remain over the robustness of the HS2 business case.
Other publicity
Generally, the national media is beginning to become more interested in HS2 and, mainly thanks to an energetic campaign by the Fletcher family in Great Missenden, there have been letters in recent weeks in the Financial Times, The Sunday Times, the Independent, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the New Statesman, the Spectator as well as the local and regional press. If you feel you can write a few paragraphs as a letter to the media, particularly following up on a story about HS2 they may have published, then please do so.
Events
The publicity generated is certainly beginning to raise public awareness of the plans, and there has been lots of interest and discussion at Chiltern Society stalls at various summer events, including the Bucks County Show on 26 August. The Society will be featuring its large scale map and HS2 literature at other events this month, including the Chalfont St Giles Show, the Amersham Heritage Day, the Kop Hill Climb at Princes Risborough and the Chilterns Countryside Show at Ashridge, near Berkhampstead. If you are able to help for an hour or two at any of these events, please
Sponsored walk
Society member Jim Rodda and a dedicated team have organised a walk along part of the proposed HS2 preferred route from Amersham Station to Great Missenden on Saturday 11 September. Around 50 walkers are expected (numbers have to be restricted) and they are raising money for the Society’s HS2 fighting fund. A shorter walk is also planned and Great Missenden itself is organising an HS2 awareness day for its residents.
Members’ survey
A questionnaire designed to ascertain the views of all Chiltern Society members is in the September edition of Chiltern News. It’s also available on-line on our website. The survey closes at the end of the month and we’ll publish the results during October.
Coombe Hill
Great to see more posters appearing all over the place, but we have had some complaints about the placing of our protest posters on the scaffolding around the Coombe Hill monument near Wendover (the scaffolding is there while renovation work is carried out). Although we appreciate that HS2 would devastate the wonderful view of Aylesbury Vale from the top of Coombe Hill, we would ask that people refrain from placing protest posters on or near the monument which is, after all, a war memorial. Any posters placed there will be removed.
Exhibition
Finally, we’re still hoping to run an art and literary exhibition to coincide with the expected HS2 public consultation early next year. This gives an opportunity for the artists and poets among us to effectively protest (remember, it was a few well chosen words from Sir John Betjeman that helped save St Pancras Station!). It will take some time and energy to organise, but if you’d be interested please
