Lichfield’s MP has called for an inquiry into the financial viability of the HS2 rail line.
The high speed line – which will cut through parts of Lichfield and the surrounding villages – has met opposition from a number of local groups along the length of the proposed route, with many of those fighting the plans criticising the financial case behind the project.
And Michael Fabricant MP has now made a formal submittion to the chairman of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee asking them to conduct an inquiry following a request by the Whittington and Lichfield Stop HS2 Action Group.
In a letter to Andrew Tyrie MP, Mr Fabricant said:
“I would ask that you consider conducting an inquiry into the business case for HS2 now that the Department for Transport has again lowered the Benefit-Cost Ratio of the project. I do understand that the Transport Select Committee has already conducted an inquiry into certain aspects of HS2, but with it being such a major financial project I would suggest – on behalf of my constituents – that a Treasury Select Committee inquiry could investigate issues which have not been examined previously.”
Mr Fabricant said he had forwarded on other material on behalf of the campaigners.
He said: “Along with the letter, I submitted three documents – an eight page document prepared by the Whittington and Lichfield Stop HS2 Action Group and two documents from the 51M Group – the national organisation who are engaging lawyers committing HS2 and the Department for Transport to Judicial Review in the High Court.
“I successfully referred HS2 to the Transport Committee though their findings were inconclusive. I hope that the Treasury Select Committee might be more clear in their conclusions.
“I had a one-to-one and very constructive meeting with representatives of the 51M Group in my Westminster office, where I outlined aspects and the likely timetable for the legislation to enable HS2’s construction. I have suggested that they soon meet HM Treasury officials which I am trying to enable. The meeting with the Treasury would be to suggest that they reconsider the financial viability of the whole project given the present world economic outlook.”
The meeting with 51M’s representatives also saw the actual route under discussion – with both parties critical of the proposals.
“We agreed that the present route for Phase 1 of HS2 – the London to Birmingham route proposed by the Labour Government, but agreed by the Coalition – is totally unacceptable and should instead use existing transport corridors,” Mr Fabricant explained.
“I understand that the Department of Transport, who are currently preparing Phase 2 – the route up to Leeds and Manchester, hope to have a far less environmentally damaging route than Phase 1. That proposed route will be published in a few months time.
“Meanwhile, a number of Government ministers, including myself, soon hope to meet the Prime Minister to press for generous compensation schemes for those affected by blight and compulsory purchase.
“But I shall also be arguing for a total rethink of the Phase 1 route on the lines of that suggested by the Conservatives in opposition where HS2 would have closely followed the route of the M40 and M6 motorways.”
