HS2 not bulldozed through, says boss

Sir David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd, admitted his report, which proposes bringing forward the building of the £50billion line through Staffordshire by six years to 2027, carries 'no authority' to speed up work.

And he hit back at allegations he was 'riding roughshod' over a public consultation which only ended on January 31.

Previously, the Government said the final route and station choices for HS2 in Staffordshire and the north would not be unveiled until later this year after it had fully considered the public's views.

Speaking to the Express & Star, he was asked whether his callfor work to be speeded up had betrayed those who responded to the consultation for the route that could carve up 45 miles of Staffordshire.

He said: "No ,I don't think so. Firstly there is no legislation on the books at all to do with anything north of Lichfield.

"If we look at it and it's the route that is finally determined and this is the way forward, the Government needs to determine how to deliver it, as there is nothing in Parliament that gives authority to build to Crewe."

And he also admitted he did not know how, in practice, the Staffordshire to Crewe leg of the line could be built six years earlier than planned. That's a good question. The answer is, I don't know," he said.

Sir David yesterday unveiled plans which would see a 'hub' station built in Crewe, aimed at creating better links to the north, which would be quicker than currently planned. It means the proposed Staffordshire section of the line would be built six years sooner and finished in 2027. He says the move is vital to keep down costs and bring more economic benefits to the north.

He also said the £700 million link between HS2 and HS1, the Channel Tunnel link, should be scrapped because of the disruption to commuter and freight trains as well as the impact on Camden.

It means direct European services from Birmingham would be axed. The measures were quickly endorsed by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin minutes after Sir David announced the proposals in the Great Hall in Manchester Town Hall.

But campaigners in Staffordshire have reacted angrily.

Staffordshire Against HS2 campaigner Trevor Forrester said: "In effect it is almost a totalitarian situation.

"Somehow it seems they are going to bypass the correct procedures.

"It is clear the consultation is a whitewash and now Higgins has had his gambit so he can bulldoze HS2 through Staffordshire.

"The celebrities and rich folk in Camden have been spared, yet they think they can ride roughshod over the northern people and gouge and devastate the assets and equity in our area."

Sir David also announced he hopes to see the whole of the northern fork to Manchester and Leeds completed three years earlier than planned in 2030. He said: "If done right, HS2 can provide an answer that does stand the test of time, and addresses the issues of congestion in the south and lack of connectivity in the north. The cost and impact have to be recognised and acknowledged, but so, too, do the cost and impact of doing nothing. Without HS2, peoplewill continue to face the failures of our transport system on a daily basis."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin added: "HS2 is a vital part of our long-term economic plan. It will provide the extra space we need on our rail network for trains and passengers, link our northern cities and provide jobs and skills."