The Work Goes on in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Dear constituent,
The work goes on in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner.
HS2 bulletinI wanted to update you on my activity on HS2 since the last bulletin in June:-
Response to compensation consultation
As many of you will be aware, 30th September was the deadline to submit responses for HS2’s latest consultation on compensation - if the project should go ahead.
I responded on behalf of constituents and my full response can be found here
In summary, I recognize that the current proposal represents an improvement for some of my constituents. Specifically, the Government has accepted our argument that the constituency should in effect be treated the same as rural areas, meaning that constituents will have access to both proposals which the Government is consulting on. I welcome that. However the current proposals still fall far short of the "full and fair compensation to those most directly affected "which was promised by the Government.
I am well aware that for many residents, no offer will ever compensate for the disruption or loss. That is why my priority continues to be to win the argument for an extension of the proposed tunnel in order to protect the area. I will of course keep you updated on that campaign, which is a joint effort with Hillingdon Council; Resident Associations and many individual residents who have submitted petitions.
Preserving HOAC
Back in July, I visited HOAC with Robert Goodwill MP, Minister for Transport with responsibility for HS2. The Minister was given a tour of the site and shown the activities on offer, before having a meeting with Trustees to discuss the future of the centre. I was delighted that the Minister accepted our invitation to come and see the site with his own eyes and talk directly to the Trustees. There is now a clear desire to find a solution.
Robert Goodwill MP, Transport Minister, visiting HOAC
In a recent letter to me, Sir David Higgins, also confirmed that HS2 were committed to finding a solution. “We are actively exploring issues with them for its relocation and remain committed to trying to find a suitable location.” The full letter is available here:
The Trustees of HOAC and HS2 have had regular discussions over the past couple of months looking at various options and I will continue to work with HOAC, Hillingdon Rowing Club, HS2 and the Government to ensure an alternative solution can be found. I will continue to update you on any further developments.
Visit to Crossrail site
To gain a better understanding about the HS2 proposals for the West Ruislip tunnel portal, I visited the Crossrail tunnel portal site at Royal Victoria Dock at the beginning of July.
Community and construction managers from Crossrail talked through the issues that had arisen over the construction works with local residents. Members of HS2 were also on hand to talk through the specific proposals for the West Ruislip site and the differences and similarities between the two sites.
The portal at Royal Victoria Dock is probably the only portal Crossrail have that is in such close proximity to a local community and is the most relevant in terms of seeing first hand the construction impact. It is one thing to look at a map or mock ups; quite another to see the reality close up. It reinforced my long-standing view that we need to see the tunnel extended and Ickenham spared this disruption.
Nick visiting Crossrail Site at Royal Victoria Dock
Heathrow spur
I continue my joint campaign with fellow MPs John Randall and Dominic Grieve to get the Government to drop proposals for the Heathrow spur. The almost £2 billion provisional budget could be better used and if we win this campaign it will make it easier and cheaper to extend the tunnel we want to protect the area. Click here to see a copy of our latest joint letter to Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport.
Following the letter we are meeting Patrick McLoughlin next week (16th October) and I will, again, update you with any further developments.
Seeking clarity on traffic through Ruislip High Street and Ladygate Lane
For many months I worked with Hillingdon Against HS2, the London Borough of Hillingdon and HS2 to try and get some straight answers to a simple question; "Will HS2 HGVs be using the High Street; Bury Street and Ladygate Lane?" It has been very hard to get an answer that we can trust.
I had letters from the top of the organisation that seemed to tell me different things and we soon discovered that one of the key maps in the Environmental Statement was wrong. We eventually got some clarity and the answer to the question seems to be that traffic accessing the Breakspear Road South Underbridge Satellite Compound will not use Swakeleys Road, the High Road Ickenham, Ickenham Road, High Street or Bury Street other than in “exceptional circumstances.” Regarding Ladygate Lane, we have been told that it is “not intended that HS2 vehicles would use that route,” instead HS2 traffic models have predicted a ‘displacement of a small number of non-HS2- vehicles into Ladygate Lane.” In other words, they predict that some other vehicles would opt to use that route due to additional HS2 traffic elsewhere. All correspondence can be viewed on my website.
I do not think that this shambolic episode reflects well on HS2. It is staggering to me that an organisation being trusted with so much public money could be this incompetent.
Meetings with residents
I had a productive meeting with residents of Hillside and Peerless Drive in South Harefield back in September. I was able to visit some properties in the street before the meeting and was very interested to hear residents’ concerns regarding the extra cost of policing relating to HS2, the dumping of spoil in the area and the size and location of the electricity substation.
On Friday I am also attending a meeting organised by Ickenham Residents Association. Attendees at will be the lead petitioners and residents from the local area and I hope to answer questions on the Petitioning Process and the HS2 Select Committee. I have also had a commitment from Robert Syms MP, the chair of the HS2 Select committee, to me personally that the Committee will visit our area to see for themselves.Again I will keep you posted with any future developments.
If you would like to meet with me individually or as a group please do not hesitate to get in touch.
You can keep up to date on my website,
Roundup of the last month...
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