Battle continues to limit the impact of HS2 on Chelmsley Wood

DIVIDING LINES: The HS2 scheme will have a significant impact on local
communities but supporters say it will be a massive boost to the economy

CAMPAIGNERS are making a final push in a long-running battle to reduce the impact that the HS2 rail link will have on North Solihull.
With the new Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, confirming that the multi-billion pound project would be going ahead, efforts are continuing to thrash out a deal.
Councillor Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) said that the Government was“extremely keen” to push forward with the project and conceded that it had passed the point of being able to secure a major change to the route.
He said that the priority now would be to minimise noise levels for those living in the roads closest to the line and secure green space to compensate for the loss of Pool Wood, near Birmingham Business Park.
Last month, Coun Williams travelled to London to put the case for these concessions to the House of Lords’ HS2 Committee.
The appeal at Parliament comes towards the end of a long-running and often frustrating battle for campaigners to achieve key compromises over the line, which will pass a little more than 100 metres from Yorkminster Drive.
“[We must] ensure the noise barriers past Chelmsley Wood are high enough,” said Coun Williams. “Some barriers are set to be four metres, some three and some 1.4 metres. This is bizarre so I spoke on the illogical inconsistency. “
It remains to be seen if the Lords will accept the requests but he told Other Side of Solihull that he felt the committee had been “more receptive than MPs.”
His visit came a matter of days before Solihull Council voted to become a “qualifying authority”, which will give it a greater degree of influence over matters relating to HS2’s construction process.
Coun Ian Courts, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “I think we need to be clear that this is not going to give us a veto over detailed matters but it will help us to exert some influence.
“Bearing in mind the impact of HS2 on the borough...it is in my mind essential to take steps to become what’s called a qualifying authority. It’s the detailed stage which is critical.”
Castle Bromwich councillor Ted Richards said: “From a transport/infrastructure perspective it’s
important that as construction goes forward we have as much control as we can.”
The first phase of the line, connecting London and Birmingham, is due to be completed in ten years’ time, although the National Audit Office recently warned that this could be an unrealistic timetable.
A HS2 Ltd spokesman said: “Whilst many challenges remain, the project is on track.”

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