High Speed Rail 2 – letter to Lord Adonis

Liberal Democrat Leader of Camden Council, Keith Moffitt has written to Lord Adonis to protest at the lack of effective consultation on the High Speed Two project. The text of his letter is below.

Click here to access an internal Council Briefing on HS2

Dear Andrew,

As you know, I believe that the High Speed Two project could bring significant benefits to Camden, but at present many residents are expressing concerns about the precise route proposed, and proper consultation and revision of the route is going to be important here.

I would therefore like to ask that you review the proposed deadline for the Exceptional Hardship Consultation. I am writing to you as the minister responsible for the HS2 initiative, and copying this to your colleague the R. Hon Lord Mandelson as the minister responsible for the Government’s consultation code.

Residents here are unhappy that there has been a real lack of information about the HS2 plans and in particular on this first consultation. In Primrose Hill village for instance, where HS2 guidance says ‘properties above the tunnel will experience settlement’, very few people were originally aware of the proposals, let alone the consultation.

I believe this contravenes the Government’s own consultation guidelines in the following sections:

1.6 ‘…departments should avoid taking action during election periods’
2.1 ‘consultations should last for a minimum of 12 weeks’
2.4 ‘it is important to take steps to raise awareness of the exercise among those who are likely to be interested’
4.3 ‘It is vital to be proactive in disseminating consultation documents’

I would therefore ask that;

a) All Camden households likely to be directly affected are sent general background details and the Exceptional Hardship consultation information immediately.

b) In light of the election, the deadline is postponed to June 25th to allow 6 weeks after the election for people to meet locally and respond. Participants in a recent public meeting were frustrated that High Speed Two could not be represented because of purdah rules.

As you know, I very much support investment in rail and the concept of High Speed Two, and I welcome the introduction of an Exceptional Hardship Scheme. But I feel it is critical that communities directly affected are properly consulted, which simply doesn’t seem to be happening at present.

Best wishes,

Councillor Keith Moffitt
Leader of the Council

cc. The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson

We will continue to keep residents up to date as we hear more, and as always feel free to contact us.

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