It feels like we have been robbed, says family set to lose home because of HS2
Residents living on the proposed route of the £33 billion high speed rail link today told of their fears for the future after it emerged three out of four compensation claims has been rejected.
Michael Davies, 50, and his wife Tracey, 42, live in a barn conversion near Kings Bromley with their two young daughters.
They had agreed to sell their home for £415,000 the week before the proposed second phase of HS2 was announced in January.
But the day after the route was revealed, the would-be buyers pulled out.
Mr Davies said: "We feel like we have been robbed. We have worked hard all our lives and poured all our money into the home. Now it feels like that is all gone."
He will be making a bid for compensation under the hardship scheme.
Homeowners up and down the HS2 line, which will slice through swathes of countryside from Lichfield to Stone, have expressed severe concerns over the compensation packages on offer, with others completely in the dark about the process.
The fears come as it emerged only one in four compensation claims decided so far had been granted for the first phase of the scheme, between London and Birmingham. Just 113 of 412 claims has been granted.
Jim Prinold, aged 70, his wife Mary, 68, son Peter 48, and daughter Laura, 22, farm arable crop at Sunny Hill Farm in Marston.
Initial proposals show the second phase of HS2, which will fork north to Leeds and Manchester, cutting through their land and buildings.
It means the family business of 20 years would be destroyed.
Despite being directly on the planned route, the family say they have not received any correspondence from HS2 Ltd. Mr Prinold said: "We know nothing about the compensation process because we have not had any letters or anything.
"Me and the wife are looking at handing over the reins to the children, but at the moment we have no idea what we can do."
