HS2 IS launching another charm offensive with a wave of consultation events in Rotherham after unveiling fresh plans which have enraged protesters.
The high-speed link team will be in Aston, Hellaby and Mexborough at the end of this month and the start of November to gather views on the building works, demolitions and environmental impact involved in their so-called “M18 route”.
But they have already been warned to expect a hot reception after it emerged three times as many homes as predicted will be bulldozed in Mexborough and residents in Bramley will have to live alongside construction compounds — with all the associated traffic — for almost five years.
HS2 set to cost 25% more than overseas rail schemes
The construction of High Speed 2 will cost 25 per cent more than similar rail projects in other countries, it was claimed yesterday, prompting further warnings that the scheme is too expensive.
A report commissioned by HS2 Ltd, the government-owned company, is expected to show that costs are far higher than those for networks elsewhere because of population density, the cost of land and skills shortages.
The conclusions risk casting a further shadow over the £55.7 billion project after repeated warnings that spending is at risk of spiralling out of control. The report by the auditors PWC is expected to be published by HS2 within weeks after being withheld for about two years. Ministers said in the summer that it had been held back for reasons of “public interest”.
Read on… https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hs2-set-to-cost-25-more-than-overseas-rail-schemes-bq35jgqk8
- the working draft Environmental Statement – this describes the likely environmental impacts of building and operating Phase 2b of HS2; as well as proposed ways to avoid, reduce, mitigate and monitor the effects.
- the working draft Equality Impact Assessment Report – this looks at the potential effects of building and operating the railway on people protected by the Equalities Act 2010.
Posted by rikshelpers@rikv.net
Rotherham Politics 