We have received the following update from the Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
(Note: previous Updates can be found on the Campaigns part of this web site at https://www.amershamsociety.org/topics/hs2/).
House of Lords Select Committee
The House of Lords Select Committee is currently in recess but returns to hearings on the 10 October. On return the Committee will hear evidence from petitioners in London. The full schedule for these hearings is at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/High-Speed-Rail/HSRBC-programme-10-20-October.pdf
The County Council has been informed that they are likely to appear at the House of Lords on Monday 24 October to present its evidence. The Council have also been informed that there will be a fact finding site visit to Buckinghamshire on 19 October. As with the previous visit by the House of Lords Select Committee it is unlikely that any itinerary will be shared publically. These visits have taken a different form from the House of Commons Select Committee visit and are purely for fact finding and not engaging with communities.
Early Works in Buckinghamshire
The County Council is aware that surveying by HS2 contractors has begun in a number of locations across the county. These are all being brought forward through Early Access Agreements with landowner permissions as HS2 Ltd does not have the powers to do these works before they secure Royal Assent.
The County Council is currently not allowing access for early invasive surveys on its land.
HS2 Ltd’s response to the Ian Bynoe Report on complaint handling and community engagement
HS2 Ltd has responded to the 13 recommendations made within the Bynoe report and also the suggestion to convene a Community Engagement Advisory Panel, drawn from those who have recent and relevant experience of community engagement work on large infrastructure schemes, both in providing and receiving it. You can read the full HS2 Ltd response at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326353/160525_full_Response_to_Ian_Bynoe_Report_FV.pdf.
Residents Commissioner
The latest report of the Residents’ Commissioner has been published and you can read it here.
Departure of Simon Kirby, Chief Executive Officer, HS2 Ltd
Simon Kirby, who joined HS2 Ltd from Network Rail as chief executive construction in May 2014, is leaving to join Rolls Royce, it has been widely reported.
HS2 Alerts
If you would like to be kept up to date will all the latest information on HS2 matters please contact Andrea Polden andreapolden@icloud.com who will add you to her mailing list. Andrea is a volunteer who shares daily information on HS2 matters.
Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
Jackie Copcutt jcopcutt@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 383793
Laura Martin-Leech lmartin@buckscc.gov.ukTel: 01296 382163
HS2 Blueprint Mailbox HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk
BCC HS2 Webpages: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/