Update from HS2 on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme-Some Progress 26th July 2010

I am writing to outline the Exceptional Hardship Scheme that the Government announced today. We will write to you again on August 20th, when the scheme will be formally formally launched, with more detailed information.....

.Business of the House: 8 Jul 2010: House of Commons debates

Please see the press release below regarding public meeting(s) being organised by the County to provide information on HS2 and an opportunity for people to give their views. I’m hopeful it will be in the next three weeks.....

Christopher Pincher MP:Contact Christopher
Read letter received from Christopher

County Councillor Matthew Ellis :
Contact Matthew
Read Matthew's initial email update

This is a brief update as to progress since the last Public Meeting, in May in the Village Hall. (See below for the minutes). Your committee is meeting regularly and processing the wealth of information which is circulating about the High Speed Train Route. We remain committed to stopping the HST or at least ensuring the route is changed so that our area is not affected.

* The EHS (Exceptional Hardship Scheme ) - period of consultation was extended until 17 June and most residents submitted comments along the lines suggested at the Public Meeting. The Parish Council also sent in a response, adding comments in support of those already sent in by the rest of the community.

* The Parish Council has also applied for group membership of the CPRE (Campaign for the Preservation of Rural England).

*The Hints & Area Group is continuing to maintain links with the National Action Group which at present is formulating its structure and also defining its aims and objectives. A representative from our committee has attended all of the meetings to ensure proper involvement and representation. At the moment these meetings are held about once a month.

* We are also in contact with both the County Council and our local MP to ensure our voice is heard. Those of you who watched the Politics Show, which featured Hints, a few weeks ago will recall the MP for Banbury (Tony Baldry ) suggesting that by reducing the proposed speed of the train, it would be possible to examine a case for existing transport corridors to be used. Tony also took part in a debate on the HST 2 in the House on June 9 when he put forward this point. This is one way in which we can press our case.

*For those of you who don't know -- the route is being looked at again to enable both Heathrow and St Pancras (for Eurostar ) to be encompassed. This will obviously have a bearing on the route in those areas but may not make any difference at our end. This may mean that the consultation period due to start this Autumn will be delayed.

*Last Sunday,12 of us walked the route from Bangley Lane across to Freeford . This was a fact finding activity to enable us to be absolutely familiar with the route. We all took photos which illustrate the beauty of the area which will be affected. In due course we will post these on this Website.

*Canwell Show is having a stall with information about the route (7th August ).

And finally --is there anyone out there who could offer practical help to the Action Group ? We particularly need help with media links--radio, TV, newspapers etc., also is anyone willing to act as meetings secretary and take the minutes and write them up?

Stephen Hinton (Planning Blight Surveyor) : Contact Stephen

Geoff Kynaston (Chairman Parish Council)
Email Geoff

At the meeting on 12th May Paul Blackmore and Kathe Kirimaa from our local action group, and Graham Long from the National Action Group spoke and answered questions from the audience in a packed Hints Village Hall.

One fact that may not be appreciated is the size of the line. People may imagine HS2 as being similar to the dual track of the West Coast Line, but at ground level the intense vacuum caused by each train requires a 25 metre sterile zone each side of each track, and outside these zones there will be high security fencing. The A5 bypass was lined by vegetation to reduce noise and the environmental impact, but trees will not be planted in the 25 metre zones.

If your property or land are adversely affected by blight or devaluation due to the HS2 proposals, it is VITALLY IMPORTANT that you respond and make your concerns about the Government's proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme known during the consultation period. Information packs are available from the village hall which is open from 8.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The DfT responded to feedback and made this announcement: "The deadline for consultation responses on the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for a proposed high speed line from London to the West Midlands has been extended by four weeks to 17 June.

The Secretary of State for Transport has taken this decision in the light of representations arguing that ten weeks is not sufficient to allow all those with an interest to have the fullest possible opportunity to comment on these proposals."

Following the public meeting organised by Paul Blackmore on 31 March, the Parish Council called an Extraordinary  Meeting on 8 April, to enable the adhoc Action Group against the High Speed Train proposals, to meet the Parish Council. It was the only item on the agenda and the Parish Council agreed to work with the group and support and advise them  where necessary.

Ann Outen agreed to be coopted onto their  committee and it is hoped that a further Parish Councillor will be able to join them at some time in the future. Paulette Ross, the Parish Clerk, will try and contact other local Parish Councils in the area to enable the Action Group to forge links and strengthen the effectiveness of the case against the railway. This is in the light of the Public Consultation process which starts this autumn.

The next Parish Council Meeting is the AGM on 11 May in Hints Village Hall, which will be followed by an ordinary meeting.

The meeting in the Village hall was well attended by over 140 people with standing room only.  We were supported by several outside speakers namely:
Brian Jenkins (Labour MP).
Christopher Pincher (Conservative candidate).
Matthew Ellis (County Councillor).
Stephen Hinton (Planning Blight Surveyor invited by Brian Yeates Parish Council)
Geoff Kynaston (Chairman Parish Council)

As a result of the meeting a committee has been formed to represent our interests under the chairmanship of Kathe Kirimaa.  Kathe actually lives outside the village on Hints Rd but is very strongly opposed to the landscape and environment damage that will be caused by the HS2 link route.  The inaugural meeting of the committee will be during the week after Easter and further information will be posted after this meeting.

In 2 weeks there is a Parish Councils forum and HS2 is on the agenda. Matthew Ellis strongly recommended that the Parish Councils act with a common voice. Following this forum they will review the best way forward for our own Parish as it is important that objections are handled professionally rather than by individuals.