MPs have been told more money must be found to compensate communities affected by HS2.
The warning came from Staffordshire County Council’s transport chief Mark Winnington who called for “fair and timely” payments to be paid.
Cllr Winnington told a House of Commons committee: “HS2 is going to cut through 45 miles of Staffordshire and it will be a real scar on our landscape.
“The impact of HS2 on our communities is enormous and the strain of living in the shadow of this project cannot be underestimated.
“Residents face years of uncertainty and we want to see fair and timely compensation and people shouldn’t have to wait 20 years for this.”
The committee is examining the provision of finances in preparation for the building of the high speed rail line – with the route likely to cut through parts of Lichfield and the surrounding villages.
“The scheme has already gone £10 billion over budget and our message to Government and to HS2 Ltd is that more money must be found to ensure people get meaningful compensation.”
