Camden Labour opposes the current proposal for a High Speed Train Link between Birmingham and Euston. We do not believe that this proposal is justified on either economic or environmental grounds. The sums involved (£33 bn) would be better spent on upgrading other aspects of the rail infrastructure to provide a national rail network fit for the 21^st Century.  The proposals will have a serious impact on Camden.

Holborn & St Pancras Labour MP, Frank Dobson, said:  ”HS2 is a vanity project. The sooner it is killed off the better for Camden and the better for Britain.”

Deputy Leader of Camden Council, Cllr Sue Vincent, said:  ”The case for HS2 is has not been justified on either economic or environmental grounds. It will be a disaster for Camden.”

Andrew Dismore, Cllr Sue Vincent and Frank Dobson MP

HS2 has failed to engage in any effective consultation with those who stand to be displaced in Camden. HS2 have refused to attend any public meeting in Camden. Their Road Shows have been no more than public relations exercises with style triumphing over substance. HS2 have failed to offer (a) any vision for the future regeneration of the new Euston Station area or (b) any reassurance to those who may be displaced. The current proposals offer Camden nothing except 14 years of planning blight and misery.

Camden Labour endorse “The Right Lines – Charter for High Speed Rail”, adopted by Campaign for Better Transport, Environmental Law Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, Civic Voice, Campaign to Protect Rural England, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust. The Charter calls for (a) a national transport strategy, (b) better future-proofing of big transport proposals, (c) effective public participation and (d) a more strategic approach to minimising adverse impacts.

In Camden, this is a cross-party campaign. On 27 June, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Greens Councillors agreed a joint statement opposing HS2.

You can:

• Respond on line at https://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/have-your-say.
• Links to the Consultation Documents can be found on Camden Council’s web-site at www.camden.gov.uk/hs2.
• Visit the Pan-Camden HS2 Alliance at http://phhs2referencegroup.org/wordpress/

Click here to read some useful points that could be made in responding to the consultation.