Access for HS2

How best to frustrate HS2 & delay the hybrid bill ?

Advice from Joe Rukin, following a meeting with HS2

.. "The environmental statement consultation is the critical one." was not only the line, but they went on at length to explain it.

This came out of the question about the compensation consultation being late. In the scheme of things, it doesn't matter if the Compensation one is late. That could come out in September, or even next year and it wouldn't hold up the hybrid bill. They accidentally volunteered the information that they need to make sure that the Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) isn't going to slip. Due to the timetable already set which we know is very tight, the EIA could push back the Hybrid Bill and they have never, until now, quite paid attention to what a monumental task this is due to the size of the project.

Basically if you want an EIA doing on something else at the moment you are stuffed, because all the experts in the country have been signed up for HS2. The problem is that too many landowners are not allowing access, meaning that HS2 Ltd might make the timetable as they will be able to get away with doing desktop assessments which will comply with the legal requirements for the EIA.

 We have to slow them down, and the only way we can slow them down is by letting them do the surveys properly. I have finally had a reply from Bucks CC on this issue and they have gone from saying the advice is not to let them on to now saying 'there is no advice'. Officers at Warks CC have said let them on (as is policy for WCC land) as have other environmental experts I have spoken to. I know landowners really don't want to let them on and I completely understand why, but this is self-defeating. We have to agree to as many surveys as possible, because the number of surveys they want to do in the timescale is impossible. Not only that, but if you let them on, you can give caveats to slow them down, be deliberately obtuse and the like, BUT if they do the surveys properly (coupled with the desktop stuff) they will not only take longer but find more stuff that jacks the cost up, which is one of our key aims. The other thing of course is that money paid by HS2 for access rights for these surveys could go direct to Stop HS2 to fight HS2, which would be a beautiful irony.

Bottom line is the word from the donkeys mouth is that the EIA can push the Hybrid Bill back and simply doing the EIA properly is quite possibly enough to do that. I know it might be a hard thing for land owners to let happen and it is counter intuitive, but you've got to let them on. Please.

So

  1. HS2 Ltd need to complete Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) before the hybrid bill can go ahead
  2. If they are NOT allowed onto the land they can get away with a desk study (much easier, quicker for them)
  3. They don't have resources to do all the full land based studies in time.
  4. So it is better to ALLOW access than deny it!
  5. .. but cause delays/ difficulties with the access if possible 

 

Actions:

  1. If landowners have already written or verbally informed HS2 Ltd that they will deny access then the landowners should write to say they have changed mind and WILL ALLOW ACCESS!
  2. If Landowners have not responded to HS2 Ltd requests for access they should now reply that they will in principal ALLOW ACCESS 
  3. Landowners should APPOINT AN AGENT to negotiate access for them with HS2, as this will cost HS2 more, and try to get the agent to cause further delays