You may be aware that the conclusions of the Oakervee review into HS2 have been completed but are being kept secret, and will not be made public until after the General Election.
Extract: "Boris Johnson has postponed a decision on whether to scrap High Speed 2, until after the election. Lord Berkeley, who was deputy chairman of the panel commissioned by the Prime Minister to review the scheme, said their report was now due to be "locked into the Department for Transport vaults" and published by the next Government."
There is a public petition asking for the report to be made public now. That petition is here:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/complete-and-publish-oakervee-review-before-the-december-election
Survey of Views about Burton Green Tunnel
Following on from the recent drop in sessions regarding The Burton Green Tunnel design, there is an overview of the proposals and additional information sheets here:
https://hs2inwarwicks.commonplace.is/schemes/proposals/burton-green-tunnel-design-engagement/details
There is also an online survey which is open until 11pm on 18th November and which can be comleted here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/BurtonGreenTunnel/
Those who attended the drop in may have completed a paper copy of the survey and we do encourage everyone to complete the survey so that their views are made known. Once the results are collated they will be presented to the community. This feedback will be combined with information previously gathered as part of The Neighbourhood Plan.
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Drop In Events During October
During October HS2 will be hosting two events in the area. These events will allow residents to find out more about the design of the Burton Green ‘cut and cover’ tunnel and provide feedback on the design to HS2:
- Saturday 26th October 2019, 12pm – 4pm, Burton Green Village Hall
- Monday 28th October 2019, 5pm – 8pm, Burton Green Village Hall, Hodgetts Lane
If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.
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Residents may also be interested in this report from The Sunday Telegraph, 13th October, which includes some references to Dr Paul Thornton, of Cromwell Lane...
Extracts:
"The government-owned firm behind HS2 is to release a series of documents it previously admitted could lead to ministers scrapping the planned rail line if they were made public, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose. HS2 Ltd said it will hand over papers detailing discussions with Theresa May's Government over the scheme's planned completion dates, following a two-and-a-half year legal battle by a GP who fears a "cover-up" took place to mask delays.
... Dr Paul Thornton, a GP who is campaigning against HS2, has been attempting to obtain the documents since April 2017. He said what was known as far back as 2016 about delays should "clearly should be in the public domain."... Dr Thornton wanted the papers to be released immediately to ensure an official review into the scheme is "fully informed" before it reports to Mr Johnson.
... the firm is understood to have said: "Detractors of the HS2 programme may use such information to renew their criticism of the HS2 programme, which could result in cancellation of the HS2 programme by the government."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/12/hs2-papers-could-lead-ministers-scrapping-rail-line-released/
