We have received the following update from the Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team.:
(Note: previous Updates can be found https://www.amershamsociety.org/topics/hs2/).
HS2 Ltd’s Community Engagement Strategy
HS2 Ltd has just published this strategy which sets out their approach to community engagement and what it means for those who either live or work within the communities along the line of the new line. The strategy includes 10 commitments that they will use as the basis to measure their success. The strategy will help support their thinking, actions and decision making of both their people and supply chain. You can view the strategy at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ltds-community-engagement-strategy.
HS2 Ltd responds to the Construction Commissioner’s Reports
HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, has responded to the first and second Construction Commissioner’s reports published in July 2017. You can read the response at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ltd-response-to-construction-commissioners-report-1-and-2.
HS2 Ltd Residents’ Commissioner Report 7
Deborah Fazan, the Residents’ Commissioner, has just published her September update which you can read at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/648327/hs2_resident_comissioner_report_7.pdf. The report states that ‘any community group affected by Phase One that has not already started an engagement programme with HS2 Ltd can write to me at residentscommissioner@hs2.org.uk. I will pass this information to the relevant community lead for the area’.
M25 Temporary Slip Roads
Works to construct the temporary M25 slip roads near Chalfont St Peter are progressing quickly to allow access to the construction site on Chalfont Lane. The council has received a formal request (Schedule 4 submission) to approve a new temporary junction on Shire Lane to provide access to a new temporary link road to facilitate the closure of Chalfont Lane. The majority of the temporary link road is within Hertfordshire and Herts CC has received an application for consent to undertake associated works on Chalfont Lane, together with the new link road and junction with Hornhill Road.
Stop HS2 Petition
I have been asked by a number of local residents to make you aware of this petition asking the government to cancel HS2. It is open until March 2018 and it already has over 10,000 signatures although in reality it is unlikely to elicit much response from government at this stage of the project. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200793
However, please do share with your own networks and ask them to sign, as it is worth trying all avenues.
Community and Environment Fund and Business and Local Economy Fund (CEF and BLEF)
The county council is holding a meeting on 12 October 2017, 9.30-11.30, at Waddesdon Village Hall. Groundwork UK has been invited to give a presentation on the funds above and to give an opportunity for parish councils and other stakeholders to ask any questions about how they might access the funds.
There is space available if you wish to register with Jackie on the email below.
Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
Jackie Copcutt jcopcutt@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 383793
Laura Leech lleech@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 382163
HS2 Blueprint Mailbox HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk
BCC HS2 Webpages: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/high-speed-2-hs2/