On Tuesday 15th November 2016, HS2 Ltd announced its revised route for the HS2 branch line into Leeds. Prior to a consultation in 2013, the initial proposed route cut across Woodlesford on 60ft tall concrete viaducts. Following feedback from local residents in that consultation, HS2 Ltd has now published a refinement to the branch line that now tunnels underneath Woodlesford at a depth of 85 to 150 ft below ground level.
Refinements are not subject to further consultation and no change has been proposed to the main line route via Swillington and Garforth.
Having assessed the revised route maps in more detail, Alec has set out a five-point action plan to secure mitigation on the proposed route.
- Mitigation & screening – In the House of Commons Chamber on Tuesday 16th November 2016 Alec said he would be lobbying for mitigation, screening and compensation for residents directly affected by the proposed main line and branch line route. He will be arguing for tree line screening to be planted along proposed cuttings and embankments around Garforth, Swillington and Oulton to act as a sound and sight barrier before the line is fully functioning in 2033.
- Protection for Water Haigh Woodland Park – Alec believes locating the tunnel mouth at Water Haigh Woodland Park, albeit in a 10m cutting below ground level, is an unsuitable location. He will be meeting with HS2 Ltd officials to ask for consideration to be given to relocating the tunnel mouth further back behind Fleet Lane, thereby retaining the park for community use.
- Comprehensive surveys & assessments – Alec will be meeting with HS2 Ltd officials to acquire a timetable for appropriate survey works to take place. Engineers will, of course, have to carry out detailed surveys before any works start in the late 2020s but Alec believes these surveys should be carried out in the immediate future.
- A public meeting with HS2 Officials – Alec is organising a public meeting with HS2 officials to take place in the area so residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about the new proposed route. Alec believes it is important that residents should be able to ask direct questions of the officials who drew up these plans and have access to detailed information regarding tunnelling, landscaping and compensation.
- Better compensation – Alec believes the suggested banding for compensation should extend to a radius around the proposed line and not just a certain length either side. This would remove unfair anomalies that currently exist with the proposed compensation scheme.
In a House of Commons debate over three years ago, on 31st October 2013, Alec commented that national infrastructure projects such as HS2, however important they may be, cannot be built on the back of hard-working people who have invested their livelihoods in their houses and it is therefore vital that proper compensation is in place.
Alec continues to work hard in representing residents’ concerns about HS2 Ltd’s proposed route through Elmet & Rothwell.
Detailed maps are available via the Department of Transport here.
An evidence-based report on tunelling in the UK is available here.
Details of the proposed compensation scheme are available here.