Residents Could Suffer Because of High Speed 2

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Petition planned over rail link proposals

Residents in some parts of Ealing may suffer as a result of the High Speed Rail Link (HS2) and Ealing Council says changes must be made.

Ealing’s list of concerns for the current scheme focuses on the Old Oak Common area in Acton and parts of Northolt, and includes a variety of issues such as inadequate property compensation for local residents, as well as the impact on air quality, loss of open space, noise and visual impacts, detrimental road closures and diversions.

The HS2 Bill was first presented to Parliament in November 2013 and was accompanied by an environmental statement which included Ealing Council’s issues with the scheme. An independent assessor is now compiling a report summarising all feedback, which will be presented to MPs ahead of the second reading.  

The council says it will lodge a petition if its concerns with HS2 are not met when the Bill is read at Parliament later this month.

Ealing’s executive director for regeneration and housing, Pat Hayes, said: “Ealing Council welcomes the idea of high speed 2 and the regeneration benefits it will bring to London. However, we are concerned that people living in Old Oak Common and parts of Northolt could suffer from the construction of the railway and we will do everything necessary to ensure our concerns are addressed.”

The council says it has already assisted residents in the Old Oak Common and Northolt areas by hosting meetings, and providing detailed advice and useful contacts.

In 2012, Ealing Council successfully campaigned with residents for the HS2 route to be tunnelled underneath the borough rather than built over ground.  A number of homes, businesses and open spaces have been protected as a result.

23rd April 2014