Meeting With Patrick McLoughlin (03 May 2013)
This week I met with the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP to discuss HS2. Read my report of the meeting here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Phase 2 Consultation (29 Apr 2013)
Today, I have responded to the consultation regarding the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for Phase 2 of the HS2 project.
I would also encourage as many as possible to reply to the consultation as well. The closing date has been extended to 5pm on 20 May 2013. Further information on responding to the consultation can be found here.
Also if you would like some assistance completing the consultation, you might like to visit the HS2 Action Alliance website by clicking here.
Download (pdf, 794kb)
HS2 Judicial Review Announcement (19 Mar 2013)
On Friday, we received the result of the Judicial Review, here is my report.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Meeting With The Prime Minister (15 Feb 2013)
Yesterday I was able to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss again my concerns over HS2. Read my report here.
Download (, 0kb)
Property and Compensation Consultation (08 Feb 2013)
Here is my response to the property and compensation consultation which closed last week.
Download (pdf, 1036kb)
Safeguarding Consultation Response (08 Feb 2013)
Here is my response to the Safeguarding Consultation which closed last week.
Download (pdf, 605kb)
Property and Compensation and Safeguarding Consultations (12 Nov 2012)
Two consultations into Property and Compensation and Safeguarding have finally been launched by the Department for Transport. I would urge as many of you as possible to respond to the consultation. You can do so here. The consultations run until the 31 January 2013.
You can read more about the consultations in the attached document.
Download (pdf, 384kb)
Letter From The Prime Minister (16 Oct 2012)
Recently I received the attached letter from the Prime Minister regarding the EHS and the compensation consultation.
Download (pdf, 199kb)
HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum - Fifth Meeting (02 Oct 2012)
Recently I chaired the fifth meeting of the Compensation and Mitigation Forum. Have a read of the report here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Newsletter (17 Aug 2012)
For your information, I thought I would share with you the latest newsletter from HS2 Ltd and their new Chairman, Doug Oakervee CBE. I hope you will find some parts of it interesting. You can read the newsletter here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Meeting With Conserve The Chilterns Campaign (23 Jul 2012)
Recently I chaired a meeting of MPs and the Conserve the Chilterns Campaign Group in Parliament. Read about the meeting here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum - Transcript Of Fourth Meeting (16 Jul 2012)
Please feel free to read the transcript of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum with the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP.
Download (pdf, 3569kb)
HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum - Fourth Meeting (11 Jul 2012)
The most improtant meeting so far of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum took place recently when we were joined by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP. Read my report of the meeting here.
Download (, 0kb)
Letter from The Cabinet Office (07 Jun 2012)
Please read this letter I've recieved from the Cabinet Office
Download (pdf, 327kb)
HS2 Compensation And Mitigation Forum – Third Meeting (01 Jun 2012)
The third meeting of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum has taken place and you can read my report here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum - Second Meeting (25 Apr 2012)
The second meeting of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum took place last week. You can read my report of it here
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Public Meeting Report (17 Apr 2012)
Read my report from the recent public meeting in Brackley to discuss HS2 here.
Download (, 0kb)
Meeting of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum (23 Mar 2012)
The first meeting of the HS2 Compensation and Mitigation Forum took place in Parliament on Tuesday. You can read my full report here.
Download (, 0kb)
New Anti-HS2 Group Established (01 Feb 2012)
I have established a new anti HS2 group of MPs following the Secretary of State's announcement to go ahead with HS2. You can read about it here.
Download (, 0kb)
HS2 Announcement (10 Jan 2012)
The Government's announcement on HS2 was made today. Read about it here.
Download (, 0kb)
Letter to the Press Ahead of the HS2 Lobby Day (29 Nov 2011)
Read my letter, signed by many other MPs from all Parties and across the country, and business leader Archie Norman. The letter was released to the press and appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on 27 November.
Download (pdf, 246kb)
Pro HS2 Letter (05 Aug 2011)
I thought you may be interested in a letter I have received from pro HS2 MPs and my response.
Download (pdf, 246kb)
HS2 Consultation Final Submission (28 Jul 2011)
I have now submitted my response to the HS2 Consultation and you can read it here.
Download (pdf, 7347kb)
HS2 Article (20 Jul 2011)
MPs in Devon and Cornwall have begun voicing their concerns over HS2. Have a read of the very interesting article here.
Download (, 0kb)
IEA Launches New Report on HS2 (20 Jul 2011)
Read about the launch of the new report by the IEA that criticises the current plans for HS2 and have a glance at the IEA report
Download (pdf, 71kb)
HS2 Roadshow and the Battle Ahead! (08 Jun 2011)
The HS2 Roadshows are now complete in the South Northamptonshire area and I managed to call in on each one of them at Greatworth, Chipping Warden, Upper Boddington and Brackley. I was delighted that they were all well attended and I know that many of you asked tough questions of the engineers and HS2 staff that were running the roadshows.
I'm determined to make sure HS2 stays at the top of the agenda during the remainder of the consultation period, so I'm delighted to have received another deluge of letters from constituents concerned about HS2, and I encourage you all to continue to write to me and to respond to the consultation, which finishes on July 29.
Yesterday I went along to the Backbench Business Committee with Dan Byles MP (North Warwickshire) and Steve Baker MP (Wycombe) to beg for another debate in the Chamber to discuss HS2. We are all in agreement that this issue needs to remain high on the agenda whilst the consultation is open and the Transport Select Committee is about to begin their inquiry into the business case for HS2. The inquiry will begin this month but may not report until towards the end of September. I was delighted to have Steve's support for the application as he is on the Transport Select Committee and, being the MP for Wycombe, is not affected by HS2. His opposition is quite simply because he does not believe it is value for taxpayers money.
This brings me on to my key message to you all: this battle will be won or lost by convincing those people that are not affected that this is simply not value for money. I'm afraid that as soon as we argue that our beautiful countryside is being destroyed, people stop listening and accuse us of being NIMBYS!
Therefore I urge you to contact your friends and family around the country and make the point that this project is not value for money. Get them to contact their MPs and make them aware of the cost of HS2. HS2 will ultimately cost far more than our independent nuclear deterrent and almost 3 times as much as the Olympics! Each family in Britain will be paying £1,000 just for Phase One. Therefore whether you live in Cornwall, Wales or the Highlands of Scotland where HS2 will have no affect you will still be paying for it.
It is not good enough simply to point to the increased capacity provided by HS2. We must consider value for money, and seriously challenge the assumptions that underline this proposal. Taxpayers are entitled to receive good value for their money.
HS2 is a matter of national importance, it is the biggest infrastructure project of our time and the most costly. At the moment though, only about 100 of the 650 MPs would have formed an opinion on HS2. This needs to change and we need to start convincing the other 550 MPs and their constituents that HS2 is not the right project to improve our transport infrastructure.
Download (, 0kb)
High Speed Rail Debate (04 Apr 2011)
Read all about the very well attended High Speed Rail debate that I sponsored along with Dan Byles MP and Geoffrey Robinson MP
Download (pdf, 55kb)
Letter From The Transport Select Committee (08 Mar 2011)
A letter from Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee announcing that the Committee are launching an inquiry into HS2.
Download (pdf, 134kb)
HS2 Consultation and Roadshow Dates Announced (01 Mar 2011)
Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport has announced that the public consultation into the proposed High Speed Rail line is now open.
I encourage as many people as possible to have their say. You can take part in the consultation by clicking here, calling 020 7944 4908, emailing HS2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk or visiting central libraries along the line of route.
Please pass these details to anyone you think will be interested.
In addition, a number of roadshows have been announced where you will also be able to take part in the consultation, read evidence and material explaining the project and talk to engineers, environmentalists and representatives from the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd. I am also hoping to get along to as many as I can to answer your questions and represent your views.
The dates of the roadshows in our area are:
Greatworth - 17 May 2011 - Greatworth Sports and Social Club Car Park, Helmdon Road, Banbury OX17 2DR
Chipping Warden - 24 May 2011 - Village Hall Car Park, Culworth Road, Chipping Warden, Banbury OX17 1LB
Upper Boddington - 25 May 2011 - Boddington Village Hall Car Park, Warwick Road, Upper Boddington NN11 6DH
Brackley - 27-28 May 2011 - Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfield Way, Brackley NN13 6JJ
Download (, 0kb)
Transport Select Committee Announces Inquiry Into HS2 (28 Feb 2011)
After writing to Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee along with other MPs such as Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) and Christopher Pincher (Tamworth), the Transport Select Committee have announced that they will hold an inquiry into the proposed High Speed Rail line:
Thank you for writing to Louise Ellman to press the case for the Transport Committee to inquire into the HS2 project. You will get a formal reply from Louise in due course but I thought you would be interested to know that the Transport Committee has decided to conduct an inquiry into the project. Terms of reference are currently being drawn up but the inquiry is likely to focus on the economic case for the project rather than the specification of the route. We will publish the terms of reference on our website next month.
Best wishes
Mark Egan
Clerk, Transport Committee
I'm sure you will agree this is positive news and I will let you know further details when I have them.
Download (, 0kb)
High Speed Rail Lobby Day (28 Oct 2010)
Read the report from the successful High Speed Rail lobby day.
Download (pdf, 58kb)
South Northamptonshire Council (28 Jul 2010)
A letter from Jean Morgan, Chief Exceutive of South Northamptonshire Council outlining the Council's opposition to HS2.
Download (doc, 40kb)
Philip Hammond's Statement (26 Jul 2010)
Statement from Philip Hammond regarding the EHS.
Download (pdf, 475kb)
EHS Launch (26 Jul 2010)
A letter from Philip Hammond announcing the launch of the EHS.
Download (pdf, 612kb)
High Speed 2 (24 Jun 2010)
A link to a letter from the Secretary of State to HS2 Ltd.
Download (pdf, 64kb)
Exceptional Hardship Scheme (21 Jun 2010)
A response to my letter regarding the Exceptional Hardship Scheme from Philip Hammond MP.
Download (pdf, 305kb)
Roger Helmer MEP (01 Jun 2010)
Letter from Roger Helmer MEP outlining his position and what he is doing in opposition to the High Speed Rail project.
Download (pdf, 2166kb)
Exceptional Hardship Scheme (25 May 2010)
Letter from Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport regarding the Exceptional Hardship Scheme.
Download (pdf, 305kb)
5. The strength of local feeling has persuaded HS2 Ltd to review their proposed route as it crosses through 3 constituencies - S Northants, Tamworth and Kenilworth and Southam. I was invited to meet with HS2 Ltd on September 8 to see their proposals, and sent out an email to my entire 'HS2 email distribution list' on that same day. If you would like to add your email address to this distribution list then please let me know at andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk.
My Position On HS2:
