HS2 Phase One environmental statement consultation

Response Form On 25 November the High Speed Rail (London – ) Bill was introduced to Parliament seeking the powers necessary to construct and operate HS2 Phase One. In line with Parliamentary Standing Orders an Environmental Statement has been produced to accompany the Bill. A consultation is now being held on the Environmental Statement to ensure that the decision taken by Parliament at Second Reading of the Bill is informed by the public’s views on the Bill’s environmental impacts.

The Environmental Statement is made up of a number of documents. The Non-Technical Summary provides a summary of all the information contained in the Environmental Statement.

Please let us know your comments on the Environmental Statement in relation to the Non-Technical Summary and five volumes.

Our comments on the Non-technical summary are: HS2 is to run through Metropolitan Borough for some 14 KM. The construction and operation of the scheme will have major impacts on many local councils in the Borough and will also directly affect Meriden Parish Council.

Please let us know your comments on Volume 3: Route-wide effects.

Our comments on Volume 3 are:

We feel environmental mitigation is not being prioritised. Costs being used by HS2 must be made public and subject to independent review given the level of environmental damage which current plans for HS2 will cause.

The environmental impacts arising from construction are described as “temporary” in the ES although they are planned to last for up to 9 years. This will have major effects on Meriden and surrounding area due to the noise, vibration, light pollution, dirt, volume of lorries and construction traffic on rural roads and the main trunk roads that link Meriden to other towns and villages. All this will affect air quality and affect people’s health.

There will be disruption to existing businesses including farms, demolition of buildings and roads. No noise maps for construction work have been provided.

HS2 is not part of our low carbon future. The latest business plan forecasts only 1% of HS2s passengers will transfer from air and 4% from the car.

Meriden is proud of its long history as being the centre of England and many visitors come to the local area and visit other villages around Meriden including , and . Meriden is also proud of the Heart of England Way and Millenium Way footpaths in the area used by many residents and walkers from all over the country. HS2 will cause significant damage to M216 and M214 specifically.

The loss of Meriden Gap which has been preserved for many years is understated. The release of greenbelt land for development due to the new station at Middle Bickenhill will change the landscape and local area and road network. The farm land, leisure businesses and Arden landscape are also community assets as are villages in the area. Most of this land in the surrounding area of Meriden will be used for construction purposes.

Will there be controls in the operation phase on air quality as there is no mention of this in the ES.

There is a local school Diddington Hall which caters for children with autism. The level of noise will be unacceptable for their emotional health and development. The decibel levels from trains on the track where it passes Patrick Farm on viaducts will be high and be heard across to Meriden. Sound reduction measures hopefully will reduce this.

Local residents are concerned about the potential for further flooding as the flood plain of the is between Meriden and Hampton in Arden. Flooding also occurs near the roundabout on the A452 near the A45 roundabout. Will the rebuild of this roundabout stop this happening?

Please let us know your comments on Volume 5: Appendices and map books. You are welcome to comment on one, a number, or all the appendices. Please indicate in your response which report(s) your comments apply to (e.g. the draft Code of Construction Practice).

Our comments on Volume 5 are: in relation to the appendix and Code of Construction Practice. There should be changes in the Code to ensure and improve control of local communities over the construction processes.

The HS2 Scheme Sponsor or the nominated undertaker should cover all costs relating to the joint employment by Meriden Parish Council and other local parish and town councils, of specialist staff during the construction phase. These people would have expertise in environmental health, ecology and archaeological and cultural heritage. They would have power to suspend works when agreed control measures are breached. This and other local parish councils should have the right to refuse permission for works undertaken outside core hours and all route closures and diversions and have the power to regulate the time of day when heavy traffic flows and traffic control measures allow. There is already a problem in Meriden with the number of HGVs linked to the quarry sites locally where they do not adhere to agreed routes and sometimes core hours and thunder through the village and damage kerbs and grassed areas.