Train proposals would cut through communities
M6Toll, quarrying and now high speed trains. What else can be thrown at rural communities around Lichfield and Tamworth?…
Shock news as the Government announces plans to spend £30billion on a new high speed train line tearing through the heart of the area I represent.
It is staggering and follows only days after winning the campaign to squash plans for massive new quarrying around Hints, Weeford, Comberford and Fisherwick. And now Hints, Drayton Bassett, Swinfen, Packington, Canwell, Whittington and Weeford are to potentially suffer yet again with the plans for the 250mph super trains.
Numerous houses blighted for many years to come, farms lost through compulsary purchase, roads blocked off and, according to some, ‘the bottom has dropped out of our lives’. Devastating for people and scandalous to have the beautiful countryside around those villages changed forever.
If knocking 20 or so minutes off the trip from Birmingham to London helps our ailing economy in the West Midlands then, I suppose, it’s hard to argue against but it remains far from certain that the route the Government has shown a preference for is the best one and I for one will be campaigning for a change.
And actually it’s certainly more than just me. In 24 hours nearly 400 people have signed up for my email updates on issues relating to high speed train (HST). It’s a few years away yet but we have to make absolutely clear, in advance of a Public Inquiry next year, that local people oppose this ferociously.
Draft timetable
March 2010 – Proposals for high speed rail and issued Exceptional Hardship Scheme consultation
Before Autumn 2010 – Further engagement work and consultation preparation
Autumn 2010 – Formal public consultation
2011 – Government decides whether to proceed and proposed route for London to Birmingham
2011‐2013 – Further detailed design and assessment of the route
2013 – Further public consultation
2014 – Hybrid Bill laid in House of Commons
2019 – Construction could start
Proposed route of railway line through LRE (PDF maps):
Middleton to Drayton Bassett HERE
Hints and Weeford HERE
Swinfen, Packington and Whittington HERE
Proposed route of railway line through LRE (commentary):
From Middleton…
Through Marl Pit
Cross country 250 metres west past Oak Dairy Farm
Through Shirral Drive 150 metres west of junction with Drayton Lane. SD to go over railway
Closing Drayton Lane 400 metres from Shirral junction. Diversion from DL, down SD and new road to rejoin existing DL for 350 metres to A453 junction west of railway.
Through A453 100 metres east of junction with Drayton Lane. A453 to go over railway
Cut through Wagoners Lane (Bangley Lane loop to close off by White Hose Farm)
Through Rookery Lane 150 metres west of water ford (500 metres from Hints village centre). Road to go under railway
NNW through old A5 (cut off old A5) 100 metres SW of Bucks Head Farm
Through new A5 150 metres north of Buck’s Head Farm. New A5 (800 metre stretch road re-alignment) to go over railway
Through Flats Lane 150 metres south of junction with Kox’s Grave Lane. Road to go over railway
NNW 200 metres west of Packinton Moor
North 100 metres west of Horseley Brook Farm
North through western side of Ingley Hill Farm
North skirting western side of Freeford Home Farm
Through A51 (by Bailey’s Beating) 300 metres from junction with Whittington Common Lane. Road to go over railway
Whittington Common Lane to close off 150 metres from junction with A51. New road 400 metres east of A51/WCL via golf land to rejoin WCL 300 metres from current A51/WCL jct
Through Darnford Lane 150 metres east of golf driving range. Road to go under railway
New railway to go on 700 metre long viaduct (30 metres high) over A38 and existing rail line
Via Enterprise Industrial Estate (land take) and on towards Curborough
Information on blight
Click HERE for information relating to a special circumstance voluntary purchase scheme for properties which could be affected
The Background
Click HERE for the Ministerial statement
Click HERE for the full headline document
Register for email updates on HST as and when issues arise HERE
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4 comments
Sign our petition for a parliamentary debate! http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/stop-hs2/sign.html
As the route of the train will run just 90m from our property, it would be nice if the we and the local residents of Flats Lane, Knox Grave Lane were informed of local meetings, before they happen. We found out about the metting on the 19th November, onTuesday of this week. We do understand you are a busy man but as we do not receive the local free paper somebody needs to inform us.
Regards Phil & Tina
I find it incredable that the government would devastate so many communities for the sake of 20 minutes. Why cant a route be planned along the M6 toll hasnt the rural communities suffered enough. This will be fought to the last breath.
my house is close to clifton. are there any maps of proposed hs2 please
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