I was pleased to welcome the HS2 Hybrid Bill Committee on a two day visit to Kenilworth and Southam last week.
The HS2 Bill is currently progressing through the Houses of Parliament and the Committee of MPs is travelling the length of the route from Birmingham to London to get a better understanding of the impact the line will have. The MPs are visiting constituencies affected by the route before listening to residents’ petitions in Parliament over the coming months.
The proposed train line will have a significant impact on many areas in my constituency and I was glad to show the Committee around and introduce them to local residents whose lives are blighted by HS2.
The visit started in Burton Green, then travelled on through Kenilworth, to Stoneleigh, Cubbington, Offchurch, and Southam. On their second day the Committee went on to visit Wormleighton and Priors Marston. Throughout the visit the Committee of MPs heard from residents whose properties are affected by the line. Whilst the Bill Committee cannot take any decision on the amount of compensation that is available to individuals I am pleased they left with a clear understanding of the human impact of HS2.
I have already raised many of the issues that were discussed during the visit with the Committee and HS2 Ltd but I am glad the group were able to see the problems for themselves. Although individual Action Groups and I will make the clearest case we can for changes to the route to lessen the impact whether that is noise, visual intrusion of the landscape, dust, vibration or other problems, there can be no doubt the Committee seeing the areas affected with their own eyes is by far the best way to reinforce the argument we will be making and that is why I was so keen to ensure the Committee visited the affected areas in the Kenilworth and Southam constituency.
I am also pleased the Committee were able to discuss concerns with local people whose lives are so badly affected by the line and I hope it will make them look more sympathetically at this area when they hear our petitions shortly.