The Prime Minister has been urged to do more to ensure disruption caused by HS2 works in and around Lichfield is minimised.
Rishi Sunak was tackled on the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Lichfield’s Conservative MP Michael Fabricant told the PM that residents were facing ongoing disruption to their lives and businesses as a result of the work on the controversial high speed rail project.
He said:
“We do have a problem in Lichfield – and that is road and footpath closures, which we don’t know how long they will go on for.
“It is apparent that for HS2, who are making these closures, one hand doesn’t know what the other hand is doing.
“HS2 is the most dysfunctional organisation I have ever had to deal with.
“Will the Prime Minister in the short term try and restructure HS2, so it works like a company should? And in the long term, can he save other constituencies from this damage by stopping HS2 at the end of Phase 1?”
Michael Fabricant
The Prime Minister responded:
“I know the frustration this is causing to my Hon Friend’s constituents.
“I am told that HS2 Ltd is prioritising the completion of works underway to keep disruption to a minimum, including roadworks in Lichfield.
“The Transport Secretary will continue to hold them to account, and the company will keep local communities informed about future works.”
Rishi Sunak
Works have seen long term closures of roads and footpaths while the HS2 line is built across areas such as Whittington and Streethay.
Lichfield’s MP said the decision-makers needed to ensure the best was now made of a bad situation on HS2.
“I wait with bated breath to see whether there are any improvements.
“I opposed HS2 when it came to Parliament and resigned my front bench position so I could make my views known – but I had no idea how expensive and disorganised it would become.
“My own preference is for HS2 to be halted now and the damaged land restored, but I know this won’t happen.
“But stopping it at the end of Phase 1 will help other parts of the Lichfield constituency which will soon be affected by the construction of HS2 Phase 2a.”
Michael Fabricant
Closing the stable door Mr F after the horse has bolted. Nothing that you or anyone else says about this, there is no stopping the disruption and you are kidding yourself if you think there is, but not the people of Lichfield & District.
Sunak isn’t going to do anything is he? He’s already proven to be an unelected, vapid waste of space of a PM. At least Fabricant has done his bit by asking the question, so he can go and put his feet up for the next 6 months until he feels the need to be visible again.
Hashtag represented
More wind and water from Fabricant and Sunak, it’s their government’s policy to slow the project down, saving some costs in the short term but increasing the overall costs in the long term. Another bill to be picked up by others. As a direct consequence of that policy shift the period of disruption will be prolonged. Its a decision necessitated by the economic incompetence that has led to a stagnant economy, high taxes and diminished public services. The HS2 project may have been ill conceived but government interference has created the current problems of prolonged disruption.
Come on Michael, there is one even more disorganised group that you have to deal with on a daily basis. Your own government and their lacky MPs.
OMG, all along i have thought it an expensive waste of money considering the size of UK , not to mention the loss of wildlife and Communities bulldozed down.
We should have enhanced and improved our current rail system, possibly spending money opening up rail links previously closed , such as the one to Walsall ect…..
All this HR2 is going to do is save a few people a little less travelling time.
I imagine the price of travel will be expensive too .
HS 2 is doomed N of Brum If they stop what a mess to clear up. Who is in charge?
I am sure the government now see the error of their ways with this grandiose scheme. Trouble is that getting out of it would lose face and, probably, even more money on contractual defaults and restitution. Still it is not a complete failure, many of their friends in the construction industry will have done very well. Probably the Tory coffers will have benefited too.
To Mr l I know Andrew Cooper is on fazeley Council you misread what I wrote.he has not mentioned that he is involved with fazeley.read monstaraving article. Also I m proud that I stood as a labour candidate against 11tories and regained my seat.we do need parish and Town Councillors we look after our area not Lichfield. Also we do nt get paid but I m happy to serve the community I live in for 23 years