HS2 makes promise to communities

The HS2 project took a huge step forward this week, and Staffordshire County Council will hold the high-speed rail line to its commitments.

The county council has pledged it will do all it can for its communities in the years to come after Royal Assent was granted to legislation permitting the line to be extended through Staffordshire from the West Midlands to Crewe.

David Williams, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “Today’s landmark in Parliament brings HS2 a step closer to reality and this authority is determined to help its residents every step of the way as preparation and construction takes place.

“The county council has already successfully petitioned for some amendments to proposals to reduce the impact on road users during the construction phase.

“Now that Royal Assent has been granted, we will be responsible for approving highway work and lorry routes, plus movement of waste and spoil from the sites and subsequent monitoring to ensure that rules and conditions are being observed.”

The “Handsacre Link” was confirmed as part of the first phase of the project connecting Stafford to the HS2 network and potentially opening up further investment and development in the county town following extensive lobbying, and a commitment by HS2 has also been made to use local suppliers, materials and labour wherever possible.

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David Williams added: “HS2 should be updating parish councils and residents regularly on what’s happening and there will be information soon about support for communities affected by the project above and beyond mitigation already discussed.

“At the same time we will also continue our work to make sure that we share in the economic benefits that this enormous development will bring.”

During lobbying for Phase 1 of the line, the county council successfully argued for the lowering of eight kilometres of line in Lichfield. Residents with complaints should, in the first instance, go to the HS2 helpdesk which is open 24hrs a week on Freephone 08081 434 434, or https://www.hs2.org.uk/how-to-complain/.