Supporters of the project say it would cut travelling times and stimulate the economy along the route, creating new jobs and encouraging regeneration.
However the London Assembly’s Environment Committee says the rail link would require the destruction of homes and parks while subjecting Londoners to a decade of “noise, pollution and disruption”.
The concerns are raised in the committee’s response to the Environmental Statement supporting the enabling Bill for the project.
Assembly Members say the “hidden costs” to the environment and Londoners are being ignored and that compensation for those affected by the project are “inadequate”.
Committee chair Murad Qureshi AM said: “These costs need to be re-evaluated for the sums to add up to a realistic price tag for the construction of HS2.”
“The government can’t keep ignoring Londoners’ concerns. People have clearly told MP’s that they are unhappy with the rough-shod way this bill is being pushed through.”
However HS2 Ltd, the company set up to develop and promote the scheme, insists it will deliver benefits for commuters and Londoners.
Commenting on the Assembly’s concerns, spokesman Ben Ruse said: “HS2 will bring enormous benefits to London. It will free up much-needed space for commuters coming into Euston and providing a powerful catalyst for regenerating areas around Old Oak Common and Euston.
“This comes with the potential to support around 90,000 jobs, 20,000 new homes and huge opportunities for business. The budget we were set by the Government last year already has a significant contingency fund to cover the environmental measures and compensation package that the committee is highlighting.”
Ian Reed says
Ben Ruse talks of this 90,000 jobs HS2 would create, yet has never provided any evidence of where they are to be created. Most of the ‘created’ jobs are those that might migrate from other areas. Also remember the thousands of jobs that will one way or another be lost. A example of this is in Birmingham where 7,500 highly skilled jobs are due to be lost for the creation of 1,500 low paid jobs.
As for the so called 20,000 homes, what of the 5000,000 home owners up & down the country that at this time find their homes blighted with little or no chance of fair compensation.
E hancock says
I am extremly worried about the rest of the country too. HS2 has not proved itself to be a good reliable company.I would not touch it with a barge pole.The people set to run it from what I have read, are not ones I would have any faith in.They would have to prove themselves worthy of the wages the taxpayers are paying them be open with their plans and discuss with local people .They have made a show of doing this but they have not listened and it was just ticking the boxes as far as they were concerned.