HS2 Action Alliance criticises 'irrational and unfair' scheme

Jul 27 2010 By Hannah Williams

AN AMERSHAM-BASED HS2 protest group has criticised the Government for not taking on board its suggestions for improving an 'irrational' and 'unfair' scheme to compensate those living close to a proposed high-speed rail link.

HS2 Action Alliance, which submitted an alternative scheme, said it still holds out hope for a 'more satisfactory scheme' when the final route is decided.

The Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond (pictured) announced the results of the Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) consultation for HS2 on Monday (26/7).

He said the plans, to compensate property owners already suffering from severe decline in value, would go ahead, with applications opening from August 20.

Hilary Wharf, director of the campaign group, said: "With over 4,500 responses, and 85 per cent of individuals and 60 per cent of local authorities and other interested bodies supporting our alternative compensation solution, we are naturally disappointed that the Government persists with a lightly modified version of their original proposal. This outcome appears to have both ignored our findings and the overwhelming concerns of those consulted."

The group called upon the Government to guarantee the value of properties with immediate affect – not one year after the line was constructed – and to compensate farmers and small business owners, not covered in the original proposal.

The changes now include owners and occupiers of agricultural units and commercial properties with an annual rateable value of £34,800 or less, recently inherited properties and repossessed properties where the owner urgently requires a sale. It will also include those living close to tunnel entrances and exits – such as residents in the Misbourne valley, where the proposed line emerges from beneath Amersham Old Town – but not those living on top of tunnels.

Mr Hammond said: "A number of respondents asked for the scheme to be extended to properties over tunnelled sections of the proposed line of route. It is my view, however, that any blighting effects over tunnels are likely to be limited, and this is reinforced by the additional information note on the effects of tunnelling which HS2 Ltd has published on its website."

Mrs Wharf added: “While we welcome these changes, they are not sufficient to remedy the scheme’s inadequacies. HS2AA believe that the EHS remains irrational and unfair.

“While we recognise the climate of austerity, the Government should appreciate that if HS2 cannot pay for the damage it does, including the cost of fair compensation, then HS2 cannot be in the national interest."

Mr Hammond is due to report the findings to Parliament after the spending review in October and ahead of a public consultation proposed for next year.