Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has announced proposals to deliver a high speed rail network linking London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds, with trains running at up to 250 miles per hour.
The development of a 335 mile 'Y'-shaped network would bring the West Midlands within about half an hour of London, and deliver journey times of 75 minutes or less from Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester to the capital. If approved, it could affect thousands of rural residents and many farmers.
The proposals came about after a report from HS2 Ltd, the company set up by the government in January 2009 to investigate the case for high speed rail.
The first step in building such a network would be a high speed line from London to Birmingham. This route cuts swathes across the Chilterns and all counties north towards Birmingham. It even skirts close to the NFU's HQ in Stoneleigh Park. View the proposed routes here .
A full public consultation on that route, and the longer term strategy for high speed rail, will begin in the Autumn and detailed planning work will now also begin on the route options from Birmingham to Manchester and to Leeds to allow consultation on these routes in 2012.
NFU Warwickshire county chairman Harry Johnson was on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire this morning (12 March) commenting on the proposed route (listen again here, forward to point 1 hour 3 mins in approx).
Speaking about the plans, Lord Adonis said: “I believe high speed rail has a big part to play in Britain’s future. Over the next twenty to thirty years the UK will require a step-change in transport capacity and connectivity both to promote and respond to long-term economic growth. However, this must be delivered sustainably, without unacceptable environmental impacts, and in line with the Government’s strategy to promote a low carbon economy."
NFU comment:
The NFU accepts that a modern dynamic sustainable economy needs the infrastructure to function efficiently and sustainably. In this context we understand a network of high speed railway lines is required. Given the strategic need what must be taken into account in the detailed planning and route alignment is the impact on food production in this country which is a key component of a sustainable economy.
The NFU expects the following factors to be taken into account in determining the final route:
- How much of the best and most versatile agricultural land will be lost.
- Impact on the pattern of farm holdings with respect to severance.
- The importance of ensuring there are sufficient ‘occupation’ bridges to enable farmers to continue farming in an efficient manner.
NFU Planning Policy Adviser, Ivan Moss, said: “This is a major project that will affect many NFU members. We will be providing advise to them on the process. We will also ensure that farming interests in general are taken into account in the detailed planning of the route.”
The government proposes to secure the powers to deliver any high speed network by means of a single Hybrid Bill. Depending on the outcome of consultation and Parliamentary timescales and approval, this should allow construction to start after the Crossrail scheme is completed from 2017 with the high speed network opening in phases from 2026.
There is a section on the Department of Transport website dedicated to these proposals, click to visit and view maps and summaries here
:: We'd also be interested to hear your views. Do you farm or live near the proposed route? Email us: tom.sales@nfu.org.uk
Your shout
Amanda Sweeting wrote: '95 decibels from 100 metres away (at 85 decibels you are required to wear ear defenders). Trains every three minutes from 5am until midnight. For those whose farms are on the proposed route, this isn’t just about losing land it is about forgetting what birdsong sounds like. For those slightly further away it is about a huge and immediate devaluation of property. Would we not all benefit more from high speed broadband than from a train service which has such extraordinarily high financial and environmental costs?'
Willie Clegg from Ipsden wrote: 'Ripping the Chilterns apart is an act of vandalism - and all to feed the vanity of a man who obviously believes he’s a classical God. He should think again on both counts!'
Belinda Naylor wrote: 'The proposed High Speed Rail route runs right through the middle of our farm – we may well lose our farm buildings as on the map as the route looks to literally touch the back of the buildings.'
Robert Lockhart from Staffordshire wrote: 'I will have a portion of my farm cut off by the proposed new rail link. We farm where the Birmingham to Stafford link crosses into Staffordshire across us then back into Warwickshire. It could be worse but looks like about 5 ha will be on the other side of the tracks with no access.'
No comments have been made.