High speed railway is villagers' worst fears confirmed
A HIGH speed railway which is set to tear through the region WILL have a branch which runs along the M42 – blighting properties in villages including Kingsbury, Polesworth, Warton and Austrey.
Officials behind the High Speed Two (HS2) railway have confirmed plans to create the "spur", heading north east.
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This map of the railway's route along the M42 was originally withdrawn from official HS2 documents.
And this week North Warwickshire MP Dan Byles said he was "deeply disappointed" at the news.
There had been months of speculation as to where the line would run, after a map which hinted at the M42 route was withdrawn.
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Now for the first time, HS2 Ltd have confirmed that the junction will be constructed close to the village of Water Orton and the M42 corridor is the planned route.
"I have been pushing hard for an early answer to this question – the continued uncertainty has been causing real concern for people living along the potential Y-Route in Kingsbury, Polesworth, Newton Regis and Austrey," Mr Byles said.
"Now that it has been confirmed, I am deeply disappointed, although to be honest not surprised.
"I think most of us locally felt this was the most likely route."
Mr Byles, a vocal opponent of the route, chaired a residential meeting last Friday urging HS2 Ltd to reveal its plans.
"The HS2 engineers told me that the details of the Y-Route itself are still being finalised and will not be published for some months, and that the location of the junction was originally not going to be released until the same time," he said. "But apparently we made a strong case during the last Community Forum meeting for early sight of the junction location, and that is why they agreed to release this information early.
"I'm grateful to them for that, although we're now in limbo until the detailed route is published."
Mr Byles said the potential implications for those living along the spur were significant.
"Last year I helped to set up an early action group for Kingsbury, Polesworth and the villages.
"I will now meet with the action group as soon as possible.
"This campaign is a marathon, not a sprint. It will be years before a single foot of track is laid, and I will continue to campaign with fellow like-minded MPs of all parties against the entire project."
What do you think? Write to the editor – email heraldletters@cintamworth.co.uk, or send your comments to The Editor, Tamworth Herald, Ventura Park Road, B78 3LZ.
Comments
by weskiwi
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 3:10PM
“There was a time when people were up in arms at the prospect of a locomotive rail engine doing 20 to 30 mph; it was thought that it could bring all sorts of health problems. The same type of problems were voiced over the motor car and the aeroplane, and the actual results did not occur, which is not to say that many problems did not come about.
The problem as I see it, is that we do have a seriously diminishing countryside already with incursions for housing, for a population that is soaring. This venture is surely going to gobble up even more, and for, again, as I see it, very little worthwhile rewards. The emphasis on time saved is eyewash with the exception of a tiny minority, as with the employment argument, because the rail lay out in existence is fine, and really needs money on improving same, which would bring about better chances of employment.
We are supposed to be in a austerity period, yet billions can always be found for such as this, a lot of wasted overseas aid, bail out money to the IMF, and HS2. This country is cockeyed and governed by cockeyed people.”