HS2 & EWR Working Group
A working group has been set-up to provide a forum for communities affected by either HS2 and/or East-West Rail, within the Community Board areas of Buckingham and Villages, Haddenham and Waddesdon, and Winslow and Villages, to identify and raise concerns regarding HS2 and East-West Rail impacts on local communities.
This group will work collaboratively with representatives from HS2 and East-West Rail and officers from Buckinghamshire Council’s HS2 and EWR Programme through constructive and open conversations to seek to mitigate local impacts on affected communities.
Core members
- Buckinghamshire Council Councillors
- Affected Town and Parish Councils
Structure and function
The Working Group is an informal meeting of the Buckingham and Villages, Haddenham and Waddesdon, and Winslow and Villages Community Boards.
The Working Group through consensus will:
- agree priorities and provide an agenda for each meeting
- set the frequency of meetings. It is proposed that meetings are monthly but members of the working group will have the ability to request a meeting at short notice if needed
- ask for expertise from other services within the council when required
Special advisors
- HS2 representatives (to nominate a single point of contact)
- East-West Rail representatives (to nominate a single point of contact)
- Buckinghamshire Council’s HS2 and EWR Programme Team
- Thames Valley Police
Reporting and governance arrangements
Community Board Coordinators will, on behalf of the working group, organise meetings, draft agendas, capture actions and update the group’s Action Plan.
Questions should be submitted 2 weeks before the next meeting.
Agendas will be circulated a week in advance.
Supporting documentation
On 6th January 2020, the Transport Committee met to discuss updates on HS2. A copy of the video can be downloaded via the Parliamentary Website.
What is Buckinghamshire Council doing on behalf of residents?
Road repairs
Road repairs are a significant concern for communities and we continue to work with HS2 and EWR to find a resolution, whether they carry out the necessary repairs or provide funds for us to undertake these works.
While we continue these difficult and complex negotiations involving other Phase 1 highways authorities (on which the technical burden to prove damage is on the Council) you can continue to report potholes and any other highways issues on Fix My Street.
HS2 Ltd carries out repairs to Moorfield Road, Denham
We are pleased that we negotiated with HS2 Ltd to carry out repairs to this road, which is currently on a construction route for the project. The works commenced in August and continue in September with overnight closures, to minimise disruption.
Concerns with tunnelling beneath the aquifer
We sent HS2 Ltd detailed questions on the potential impacts of tunnelling. We have how assessed their answers and published them on our HS2 web page.
We continue to remain concerned and are not reassured by their responses to date.
HS2 have now updated their own webpages on water supply.
Misbourne environmental protection
A company has been created to protect the Chiltern Aquifer, the River Misbourne and Shardeloes Lake from the damaging effects of HS2, and in particular the Chiltern Tunnels. Despite years of meetings and negotiations, the Environment Agency (EA) has approved the scheme proposed by HS2 Ltd. The group say they have therefore resorted to requesting a judicial review of the approval process.
Further details can be found on the Misbourne Protection website.
Leather Lane realignment
We have been proactively engaging with EKFB on the removal of trees at Leather Lane which are on the route (actually on the trace) to ensure that ecological surveys have been carried out as it is an area used for foraging and travel by bats. Our ecologist has viewed a summary of the surveys and considers that they have been appropriate. Works were halted whilst this check was being carried out.
We continue to work with the contractors to assess an alternative realignment which came forward from local residents.
Buckinghamshire Council appoints two marshals
Both our new HS2/EWR Marshals are now in post. They are undergoing induction and meetings with the ward councillors and parish councils and helping to resolve issues quickly on the ground.
Let us know if you would like an introduction to Mark Rann or Steve Hall or would like them to visit your area.
You can contact them through the EWR and HS2 enquiries mailbox: [email protected]
MPs debate relating to HS2
On 13 September, MPs debated a petition which called for ‘Parliament to repeal the High Speed Rail Bills, 2016 and 2019, as MPs voted on misleading environmental, financial and timetable information provided by the Department of Transport and HS2 Ltd. It fails to address the conditions of the Paris Accord and costs have risen from £56bn to over £100bn.’
Local MPs Rob Butler, Greg Smith and Sarah Green spoke during the debate.
Public Accounts Committee Summer 2021 HS2 Report
The House of Commons public accounts committee says that it is ‘increasingly alarmed’ about the lack of progress on HS2’s Euston Station plans. The report also says there is ‘no clear end in sight’ to HS2 cost or delays with ‘many difficulties ahead.
HS2 Community Engagement Progress Report July 2020 to March 2021
HS2 Ltd has published a report which they say draws on a number of case studies of activity during the period covering July 2020 to March 2021, along with currently available data such as from the help desk (number of enquiries, complaints, etc.), funding awarded and the events they have held.
HS2 ongoing work
You can see the work taking place in Buckinghamshire and sign up for alerts on the HS2 website.
HS2 Ltd or contractors are committed to send out advanced warning notices 2 weeks before work begins.
Works in Buckinghamshire
Although still classed as preparatory/early works there are some quite substantial impacts already being experienced by our communities.
The main works are listed below.
| Works | Duration |
|---|---|
| Colne Valley Viaduct construction | March 2021 to March 2023 |
| Closure of DEN3/1 footpath (Denham) | October 2020 to October 2021 |
| Chalfont St Giles, CSG10/1 and CSG32/1 footpath closures | June 2020 to February 2030 |
| Chalfont St Giles, Bottom House Farm Lane closure | August 2021 to February 2022 |
| Little Missenden A413 lane closure (various dates) | September to October 2021 |
| Commence north portal earthworks | August to October 2021 |
| Little Missenden vent shaft D walling | July to October 2021 |
| Aylesbury A418 utilities diversions | March to November 2021 |
| St Mary’s church, Stoke Mandeville archaeology | September 2020 to Summer 2021 |
| Marsh Lane and Old Risborough Road closures | May 2021 to April 2026 |
| Fleet Marston ecology works | 23 March to 31 December 2021 |
| Quainton construction activities | September to Winter 2021 |
HS2 Forthcoming Works Packages submission to Buckinghamshire Council
Please note that dates are subject to change.
| Schedule 17 package | Location | Planned submission date |
|---|---|---|
|
South Heath cutting Cottage Farm accommodation overbridge TLE/2 Footbridge Bowood Lane overbridge and highway |
Bowood Lane (BC package 1) | December 2021 |
|
South Heath cutting Footpath GMI/12 overbridge and GMI/2 accommodation overbridge Leather Lane overbridge and highway realignment |
South Heath (CDC package 1) | October 2021 |
| Ground level permanent earthworks and fencing and restoration proposals for Colne Valley Viaduct northern area. (Moorhall Road North) | Land Between the A412 and Moorhall Road | October 2021 |
| Wendover Green Tunnel Ellesborough Road re-construction Wendover north cutting Nash Lee Road and overbridge | Nash Lee (AVDC Package 4) | October 2021 |
| Twyford Embankment / Twyford Viaduct / Cowley Embankment / Twyford Cutting / Godington East Viaduct / Godington East Embankment / Chetwode Embankment | Twyford to Chetwode (AVDC Package 14) | Received 17 September 2021 |
| SCL/8 Footbridge | Steeple Claydon | TBC |
|
Waddesdon Embankment Footpath WAD/3 Accommodation underbridge Needles Farm Accommodation overbridge Waddesdon North Cutting Quainton South Embankment Station Road realignment and Aylesbury link overbridge Quainton Cutting |
Waddesdon to Quainton (AVDC package 10) | September 2021 |
| Chesham Road intervention Shaft Plans and Specifications | Chesham Road | October 2021 |
| Footpath ELL/20 Overbridge / Stoke Mandeville South Embankment / Aylesbury South Cutting PRA line diversion, overbridge and underpass Stoke Mandeville Relief Road and overbridge | Stoke Mandeville (AVDC Package 5) | September 2021 |
|
Bicester Road Embankment Waddesdon South Cutting Bridleway FMA/1 overbridge A41 Bicester Road realignment and overbridge Footpath WAD/4 Accommodation overbridge |
Putlowes to Waddesdon (AVDC package 9) | October 2021 |
| Doddershall Embankment / Woodlands Cutting / Bridleway QUA/28A Accommodation overbridge | Quainton to Grendon Underwood (AVDC Package 11) | October 2021 |
| North portal design and external appearance of buildings | Land to the west of Frith Hill | December 2021 |
| Rocky Lane underbridge / Small Dean south embankment / Small Dean viaduct / Small Dean north embankment / A413 diversion Green Tunnel South Portal / Bacombe Lane re-construction | Small Dean (AVDC Package 3) | November 2021 |
| Aylesbury North Cutting Oxford Road Embankment Whaddon Hill Cutting Bridleway SBH/32 overbridge Bridleway SBH/2 overbridge | Hartwell (AVDC Package 7) | November 2021 |
Key Design Elements as described in HS2 Information Paper D1: Design Policy have been subject to community engagement on design developments.
Contact us
To contact Buckinghamshire Council about enquires relating to HS2 and East-West Rail, or to sign up to the monthly HS2 E-Newsletter please email [email protected]
You can also contact the HS2 Ltd helpdesk by emailing [email protected] or calling 08081 434 434 (freephone).