A local MP has been on a fact-finding mission to see the impact a high speed rail line could have on Lichfield and the surrounding villages.
The issue of HS2 has been fiercely debated in the constituency of Christopher Pincher MP, which covers Hints and Hopwas.
A fact-finding mission to the HS1 route in Kent saw Mr Pincher find out more about the visual and audible impact of high speed trains on the countryside.
“Unlike HS2’s proposals some of the impact of from HS1 is mitigated as it is next to a current transport corridor,” he explained. “What is more, the noise volume from HS1 was demonstrably louder than the sound projections of HS2 we were given at the Lichfield roadshow. I will be writing to HS2 about this.
“It is also worth noting that the Kent trains we saw were not moving at full speed – when they are the sound levels will be even greater. Our visit has not reassured us that the noise impact of the railway can be mitigated. And we continue to believe that the business case for HS2 just does not stack up.
“The impact on the countryside was easy to see.”
