Plans for high speed rail line crossing the Vale

Government proposals for a new high speed railway will cut through the Vale.

The government has announced that it is pressing ahead with a new high speed rail route that would initially link London to Birmingham (phase 1) and subsequently extend to Manchester and Leeds (phase 2). Ultimately it could extend to Scotland. The government has now decided that the linkage to Heathrow Airport will be looked at as part of phase 2.

The route would come up from Amersham, crossing the southern edge of Wendover, Stoke Mandeville and Aylesbury, then running east of Waddesdon before picking up the path of the disused railway line past Quainton, Calvert and proceeding up to the edge of Brackley.

Follow this link to see the line of the route through Aylesbury Vale.

Key features of the high speed rail link
HS2 Ltd
Timeframe
HS2 Ltd consultation on draft scope and methodology for the HS2 Environmental Impact Assessment
Properties that could be affected
AVDC Action
How to find out more

Key features of the high speed rail link

• A new dedicated track linking London to Birmingham with no intermediary stops aimed at reducing journey times by approximately 30 minutes
• Up to 14 trains an hour running at speeds of up to 225mph
• Trains up to 400 metres long and carrying up to 1100 people per train
• Some trains will be maintenance vehicles
• Trains to be powered by electric overhead cables
• Tracks that have gentle gradients requiring construction of embankments, cuttings, tunnels and viaducts

HS2 Ltd

The government established a company called High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) in 2009 to look at the route options for phase 1. Following the Government’s decision to go ahead with the project, HS2 Ltd is now charged with delivering phase 1. It is also looking at the route options for phase 2.

Timeframe

The key elements affecting Aylesbury Vale in the government’s stated timeline for the development of a high speed network are:

• Spring 2012 - consultation on compensation proposals and safeguarding of the route for phase 1. Government also receives HS2 Ltd’s advice on phase 2 to Leeds Manchester and Heathrow
• Summer 2012 - HS2 Ltd. engagement programme along phase 1 on Environmental Impact assessment issues
• Autumn 2012 – Government puts agreed compensation policy in place
• Spring 2013 – Consultation on Environmental Statement for phase 1
• Late 2013 – Introduction of a hybrid bill to parliament to provide the necessary powers to construct and operate phase 1
• Early 2014 – Government consultation on preferred route for phase 2
• Late 2014 – Government announce chosen route for phase 2
• 2015 – Hybrid Bill for phase 1 completes passage through Parliament
• 2016/17 – Earliest possible start date for construction
• 2026 – Rail link opens

HS2 Ltd consultation on draft scope and methodology for the HS2 Environmental Impact Assessment

HS2 are currently undertaking a consultation on the scope and methodology that are to be used in the Environmental Impact Assessment of the HS2 project that will accompany the hybrid bill when it is submitted to Parliament.

HS2 Ltd describe this as a highly technical consultation primarily directed at technical bodies and local authorities.  They are asking consultees for their views on:

• what impacts should and should not be included in the assessment
• how information should be collected
• the method and criteria that should be used for analysing impacts

Follow this link to download the HS2 consultation from the Department for Transport's website.  The consultation runs until 12:00 noon on 30 May 2012.

Properties that could be affected

More detailed work still has to be done by HS2 Ltd to identify those properties that could be affected and how disruption and noise intrusion could be kept to a minimum. They are also looking at how to minimise noise from the operational railway. There is likely to be significant impact on people who live or work close to the route during the construction phase and when it becomes operational. The government also acknowledges that inevitably some buildings including homes will need to be demolished should they make the decision to go ahead. Under the law, residential owners directly affected would have access to statutory blight provisions.

Follow this link to go to the Department for Transport’s website on HS2 and follow the link for blight and compensation.

AVDC action

Aylesbury Vale District Council is strongly opposed to the scheme. This is because, based upon the information and evidence currently available, there is no business case for it, as well as the impact it would have on residents, businesses and the environment of The Vale.

We are one of eighteen councils, collectively known as “51m”, who have come together to challenge the evidence base about the HS2 project. They are known as “51m” because that represents how much HS2 will cost each and every Parliamentary Constituency…£51million. By working with other like-minded Councils in this way we reduce costs and share expertise and can have a much stronger voice in protecting the interests of our residents and businesses. 

51m has its own website that contains far more material about HS2 and how the Authorities are responding to it.  Follow this link to go to the 51M website.

In association with fifteen of the Council's in the 51m alliance, we have launched a judicial review of the government's decision.

A judicial review is a form of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision by a public body.  It is a challenge to the way the decision has been made and is not really concerned with the conclusions of the process and whether they are "right" or "wrong", as long as the law has been correctly applied and the right procedures have been followed.

For further details of the judicial review see the 51m website.

The government's decision is also being challenged by the HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA).

The judicial review is likely to take some months and meanwhile HS2 Ltd will continue its work.
  
How to find out more

As well as the 51m website  a wide range of reports and technical material is available on the Department for Transport’s web-site. A full copy of our response to the Government’s 2011 consultation can be downloaded from the link below.

Material and reports from the various HS2 summits organised for Bucks communities can also be downloaded from the links below.