Government 'understands resident's concerns' of HS2 build, but will press on regardless

The petition had asked the government to repeal the HS2 2013 and 2017 Hybrid Bills and called for a complete and immediate halt to HS2 works.

The petition says: "All works on HS2 must stop immediately. A full review of the differences between what was originally approved and current project fundamentals must be carried out. The Acts should be repealed. All ministerial approvals made to date should be forensically investigated. A new vote is needed.

"The project being currently constructed does not fulfil the basis upon which the 2013 and 2017 Hybrid Bills were voted on and passed in particular on cost. Fundamental changes (e.g. speed and passenger numbers) deviate too far from what was approved."

The Government however was dismissive when responding to the petition.

They did concede that there were grounds for 'some concerns' that had been raised by he general public.

The Government said HS2 would be 'the centerpiece' of the 'revolution on local transport, and that it would continue full steam ahead.

They wrote: " With the right reforms in place, HS2 will become the spine of the country’s transport network, bringing our biggest cities closer together, boosting productivity and rebalancing opportunity fairly across the country.

"The Government’s decision to proceed follows careful consideration of Douglas Oakervee’s independent review into HS2, and wider evidence including the imminent Phase One full business case, environmental concerns, as well as a range of other views. This review was tasked with testing all the existing evidence on the project and considering, among other things: “how and whether to proceed” with HS2; its benefits and impacts; affordability and efficiency; deliverability; and strategic alternatives. The project has therefore only recently been subject to a fundamental review."

The government contended that there were strong environmental standards which HS2 work would have to adhere to.

They said:

"It is important to note that the Phase One Act sets out the specific requirements of the railway to be constructed, and the environmental minimum requirements that construction activities must comply with.

"HS2 Ltd cannot deviate from these specifications and requirements without new powers being sought from Parliament.

"An array of legally binding ‘Undertakings and Assurances’ made to organisations and individuals along the route, and effective monitoring arrangements to ensure HS2 Ltd compliance, mean that HS2 Ltd will deliver the railway as specified by Parliament and also construct it in the way specified by Parliament."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had tried previously to allay fears of residents about 'transparency' and 'cost control', however fears still persist from local residents about the transparency of HS2 Ltd.

The response continues:

"In setting out the decision to proceed with HS2, the Prime Minister made a clear commitment to drawing a line under past problems of transparency and cost control on HS2, and a recognition that going forward, things must change.

"The Department is improving discipline and oversight with a full-time dedicated HS2 minister who will take part in monthly cross-government meetings, similar to the delivery of the 2012 Olympics, and provide regular updates to Parliament on progress."

To help promote transparency, The Department for transport has now published it's full business case for phase one of the project from West Midlands to London.

You can read that by clicking here. The response added:

"HS2 will spread prosperity and productivity across the whole country, bringing our great cities closer together and forming the spine of our nation’s transport network. The upcoming business case will show that these benefits continue to outweigh the project’s costs."

You can view the full petition and response here.