The House of Commons Transport Committee has today reported that the High Speed rail project should go ahead.
Responding to the report, NFU Director General Andy Robertson said any benefits of HS2 should be spread as widely as possible.
“There will be hundreds of farmers and landowners impacted massively by this development, should it go ahead”, said Mr Robertson.
“As the argument for HS2 is that it will rebalance the economy it is important that the rural economy, which will bear most of the costs for the smallest share of the benefits, is not disproportionately hit. That is why it is vital there is a clear and widely accepted business case before the project is given the green light.
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“The committee has said that HS2 should look to prioritise other rail projects which help to connect trains from a wider range of areas which could mean rural areas benefit more than they currently stand to do. The call for additional links from conventional routes to HS2, as well as bringing forward projects to speed up journey times on conventional networks, would also help benefit rural areas.”
The NFU is working to ensure those affected receive a fair deal, including a long-term hardship scheme that should be applied to all properties that are affected including all forms of business and all interests in land.
What is the NFU lobbying for?
The NFU is lobbying for a binding duty of care to be implemented that sets standards and timescales for the conduct of HS2, its contractors and sub-contractors during construction.
The NFU is also arguing that Government should:
- Promptly pay enhanced compensation reflecting the dislocation, distress and income lost as a result of the project.
- Appoint an independent ombudsman to swiftly resolve breaches to this duty of care.
- Incorporate a substantial programme of ‘accommodation works’ within HS2 construction plans to minimise long term impacts on farm businesses.
- Consult regularly and honestly with farmers and growers and their representatives throughout the project
- Plan, fund and implement an aftercare programme, including safety and ongoing maintenance, for land within the designated safeguard zone and mitigation features.