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/)
This E-update looks at the upcoming Colne Valley hearings as well as a general update on the Select Committee.
Select Committee update
The Select Committee is due to reconvene on the 8 June 2015. Buckinghamshire County Council is scheduled to make their first appearance on issues in the Colne Valley on this day with South Bucks District Council and the Colne Valley Park Interest Company. Specifically, the County Council is planning to appear on Highways and Ecology issues. South Bucks District Council will be appearing on a number of issues including the design of the Colne Valley viaduct. Please note that this is all subject to last minute changes.
The Select Committee have not yet formally appointed any new members. When the Council receives an update on the membership of the Committee this will be shared as soon as possible.
The Select Committee has now published its latest timetable which runs up until 18 June, this can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/hs2/Programme/2015-16/HS2_Cttee_Prog_8_18_June.pdf
Select Committee Visits to Buckinghamshire
The Select Committee Visits to Buckinghamshire were originally planned for the 20, 21 and 22 May. These were postponed following the general election.
It was announced this week that the Select Committee will be visiting sites affected by HS2 in the David Lidington MP‘s constituency on Thursday 11 June. The Council did raise objection to the lack of notice given. A link to the itinerary of this visit is at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/hs2/Visits/Site_Visit_Day_b.pdf. The County Council, District Council and David Lidington MP’s office are working together to try and ensure that all parties are informed and that we are as best prepared for the visit as possible. We have also been liaising with members of BCMP.
The Select Committee has also published updated itineraries for the other two visits in Buckinghamshire. These can be found as follows:
Cheryl Gillan MP (Amersham constituency, CFAs 8 and 9) – at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/hs2/Visits/Site_Visit_Day_a.pdf
John Bercow MP (Buckingham constituency, CFAs 12, 13 and 14) – at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/hs2/Visits/Site_Visit_Day_c.pdf
We have also just been informed that the Select Committee provisionally intend to visit the Buckingham constituency (John Bercow MP) on Friday 26 June. We will be working with communities and partners to prepare for this visit, following the Aylesbury constituency visit.
Please be aware that the final decision on these itineraries will be taken by the Select Committee in partnership with local MPs.
Chiltern District Council Petitioning Workshops
Chiltern District Council is hosting three community engagement workshops to assist Chiltern residents who will be presenting their petitions to the HS2 Select Committee later this year. The workshops will include an update on the Chiltern District Council petition, how the Councils have been working together on issues such as landscape, noise and highways and advice on presenting evidence to the Select Committee.
The dates and venues for the workshops are as follows:
- Tuesday 30 June in the Council Chamber at the Chiltern District Council offices, King George V House, King George V Road, Amersham HP6 5AW from 6pm to 8pm
- Thursday 2 July at the Chalfont St Peter Parish Council offices, adjacent to the Community Centre, Gravel Hill, Chalfont St. Peter SL9 9QX from 6pm to 8pm
- Tuesday 7 July at the Great Missenden Memorial Hall, High Street, Great Missenden HP16 9AE from 6pm to 8pm
Spaces on the workshops are on a first come-first served basis so if you would like to attend please contact Rachel Prance at Chiltern District Council by Wednesday 24 June either via email: rprance@chiltern.gov.uk or by telephone: 0771 1040 758.
Maps of HS2
As many people may already be aware the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has produced a website with maps of HS2 and its impacts. We have previously published this link but ahead of Select Committee appearances wanted to remind petitioners that these are very usable and helpful build evidence around. These can be found at http://hs2maps.com/.
Landscape Report
Buckinghamshire County Council has been working with a number of partners to produce a landscape report on the impacts of HS2. This report sets out the principles we think HS2 Ltd should be adopting in its design of the scheme. As you are aware from the previous update we have requested this be put up on our website, unfortunately we have had some technical issues but these should be resolved soon. When available the report will be placed on the petitioning page at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/petitioning/. We will link directly to the document in the next update but if you would urgently like to see it in the meantime please email HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk .
Buckinghamshire Compensation and Mitigation Panel (BCMP)
The Buckinghamshire Mitigation and Compensation Panel (BCMP) met on Wednesday 13 May. This group provides a forum for communities to voice concerns on HS2 issues and for the Council to feedback information to the communities.
On the 13 May we discussed the suspension of the Select Committee Visit, update on BCC and AVDC meetings with HS2 Ltd and the difficulty in progressing issues.
Each CFA area has a community representative on the panel who should be feeding back discussions had at BCMP. If you would like to know who your representative is or you are not receiving feedback from these meetings, please let us know. Local County Councillors are also invited.
The next meeting will be held on the 24 June 2015
Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
Jackie Copcutt jcopcutt@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 383793
Darl Sweetland dsweetland@bucksccc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 383463
HS2 Blueprint Mailbox HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk
BCC HS2 Webpages: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/