Stop HS2 Kenilworth Action Group
www.HS2CV8.co.uk
Newsletter Nr.2 Spring 2011
WHAT WILL IT TAKE BEFORE YOU
TAKE ACTION? A429 Coventry Road Dalehouse Lane Proposed Route
Golf Course Dalehouse Lane Existing Rail Bridge Abbey Fields
A46 Kenilworth School
1000 ft 200 m
Holiday Inn
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES HS2 CONSULTATION On 28th February, a five month consultation process started on the planned High Speed rail link (HS2) from London to Birmingham. Key points are: • A £17.8 billion new rail line stopping only at London and Birmingham. • Above ground track which destroys the Green Belt and the natural amenity. • The narrow green gap between
Kenilworth and Coventry will be lost. • The width is from 22metres on viaducts to 105metres in deep cuttings near Burton Green. • Service Roads will require additional land take. • Noise impacts on local properties will be significant. • Local Rail Services will be greatly reduced.
• House prices are likely to be adversely affected. More than 800 pages of information have been issued by the Government and the Kenilworth Action Group are here to help you understand the issues and respond to the Consultation. Registering your views is important and to assist residents in forming their own views, we are arranging a series of information events.
For more details please see inside...
Produced and distributed by concerned Volunteers and residents across Kenilworth and South Coventry.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?
LOCAL AND NAT
We believe that HS2 will have a number of impac Locally: • Significant noise pollution • Reduced services on local railways • Massive land take in the Green belt • Kenilworth less attractive to new and existing residents • Additional Local Tax bill The start of the HS2 Consultation was marked by a beacon on the route close to Kenilworth. The beacon was one of 50 along the route and drew much attention from the press and concerned residents. One was quoted as saying “At a time when major cuts are being made to essential services, there really is no business case for HS2”.
Many Kenilworth residents feel that HS2 is based on an unfounded business case, and that improvements in rail travel are needed now not in 15 years time.
?
WHAT CAN I DO
• Learn more and get information about how to respond to the Government’s Consultation at the First Information Day to be held on the 9th April (see below) • Visit the DFT’s Consultation www.highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk
website
at:
A banner marks the point where the route would cross Coventry Road just 200 metres from the edge of Kenilworth. The track is above ground making noise a real issue.
• Visit the Kenilworth Action Group website at: www.HS2CV8.co.uk
Will you be affected?:
• Talk to people - the Kenilworth Action Group, friends, colleagues, neighbours - get their opinions and importantly ensure that they are engaged with this crucial subject.
All of us will be affected but if you have received a letter from HS2, you are within a 1km zone in which the DFT believe there will be an adverse impact.
• Visit our stand outside Town & Country Furniture which is held every two weeks. • Respond to the consultation on line or in writing (if you need assistance, please ask us) • Order a paper copy of the Consultation from the Government on 0300 321 1010 • Attend the Government’s Consultation Roadshow (Holiday Inn, 13th & 14th June 8.00am to 8.00 pm) Warwickshire residents at County Hall. At a meeting in December, the County Council formally opposed HS2. The Consultation documents state that certain Councils along the route will have to contribute to the project. Council Leader Alan Farnell said as there was no value to Warwickshire “there’s no prospect of us contributing money.” Local taxpayers may be forced to pay a local tax levy to pay for something which will not benefit Warwickshire.
• Write to your local MP and Phillip Hammond, the Secretary of State for Transport and let them know exactly what you think and why - you will not necessarily be able to voice your opinions properly by only filling in the Consultation Questionnaire. • Use the links to the StopHS2 campaign on our website.
TIONAL IMPACT HAVE YOUR SAY
cts:
Nationally: • Represents very poor value for money • No benefits for the rest of the Country • A cost of £1,200 for every household • 73% of 30,000 claimed new jobs would be in London • Not a priority at a time of spending cuts The alternative ‘Rail Package 2’ delivers more benefits, more quickly, for more people, for less money (12% of the stated cost of HS2).
WHO ARE THE STOP HS2
KENILWORTH
“At a cost of at least £1,200 for every household in the UK, this is not affordable at a time of so many cuts. We should be investing money in schemes which benefit the country as a whole, not just a small number of people.” Patsy & David Fuller, Kenilworth
ACTION GROUP? Your Action Group aims to provide access to information and to provide a focal point for people who are against HS2. The Group is a team of unpaid volunteers and is supported by donations from local residents and businesses. If you would like to get involved, even if it is in a small way, please contact us at info@HS2CV8.co.uk
HS2 INFORMATION DAY Saturday 9th April 10:00 to 15:00 Kenilworth School, Upper Hall Leyes Lane, Kenilworth • Information • Advice • Leaflets
“I moved to Kenilworth for the peace and quiet of the Warwickshire countryside. With HS2, our rural setting will be devastated and it will be much less attractive to people moving into the area.”. Jan Tovey, Kenilworth.
• Maps • Documents • Stands
Other key dates for your diary: • 23rd April: Kenilworth Action Group Information Stalls, Abbey End • 7th May & 21st May: Kenilworth Action Group Information Stalls, Abbey End • 4th June: Information Stalls, Abbey End • 13th & 14th June: Government HS2 Roadshow held, Holiday Inn, Kenilworth(formerly the DeMontfort Hotel)
“We see little value in this project to Kenilworth, Warwickshire or the country as a whole. Coventry will see a real reduction in rail services as well, which makes this bad for the Midlands.” Peter and Jenny Jones, Kenilworth.
Useful Information:
• 18th June: Information Stalls, Abbey End
Kenilworth Action Group website: www.HS2CV8.co.uk
• 29th July 2011: Last day of the Government Consultation
Warwickshire County Council site: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hs2
• 2025: Proposed opening date for High Speed 2 Rail Link. Other routes planned to open later!
Government Consultation Documents: www.highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk
e Rocking Horse Coffee Shop
Situated in Talisman Square, 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday
TOWN & COUNTRY FURNITURE LTD QUALITY FURNITURE
Wholesale & Retail Furniture Manufacturers & Finishers FACTORY SHOWROOM - 1, ABBEY END, KENILWORTH, CV8 1QH TEL: 01926 853 001
• Finished to a wide range of colour, or to match your existing furniture • Free design service for made to measure items • Free home visit on request • Personal service to meet your needs and requirements
Kenilworth Pet & Garden Supplies
39 Abbey End Kenilworth [01926] 852 759
And you thought Chiropractors just treated backs
Headache or Migraine • Neck and back pain • Chest or abdominal pain • Shoulder, arm and wrist pain • Leg, knee, and foot pain
Leamington Spa Chiropractic Clinic 19 Swift Close Kenilworth, CV8 1QT
Tel.: 01926 857984 Design by JP Design, Warwickshire & South Wales www.jp-design.co.uk
Printing by Emmerson Press, Kenilworth www.emmersonpress.co.uk
Stop HS2 Kenilworth Action Group is the operating name of Stop HS2 Kenilworth Action Group Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with number 07549520. Registered office : 166 Kenilworth Road, Coventry West Midlands CV4 7AP