We have received the following update from the Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
(Note: previous Updates can be found on the Campaigns part of this web site at https://www.amershamsociety.org/topics/hs2/)
Notes from the Buckinghamshire HS2 team relating to the CFA 8 (The Chalfonts and Amersham) local meetings held in September have been posted on our Campaigns (HS2) page at https://www.amershamsociety.org/topics/hs2/
Thank you to those who attended our HS2 Summit on the 8 October. We hope you found the event useful and feel more confident as the Select Committee process continues. This update will provide information from the Summit, including links to relevant documents.
The Summit presentation and hand out
You can watch the presentations from the Summit again at https://buckscc.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/144434
The Select Committee ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document distributed at the event, and the presentation slides from the event can be found at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/2572715/Select-Committee-FAQ.pdf and at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/news/.
Let us know if you have more questions about the Select Committee process and we will update the FAQ document.
Buckinghamshire Compensation and Mitigation Panel (BCMP) – Local Representatives
As highlighted at the Summit, we will need to quickly share information and discuss proposals with key partners and communities affected by HS2. The BCMP, chaired by Martin Tett, will be a key channel with the aim of monthly meetings from the end of October.
To ensure BCMP has fair representation but is also manageable meeting, we would like a small number of local community representatives from areas affected by HS2.
As well as the community representation, the following persons/groups will be invited:
- Representative from each local authority in Buckinghamshire
- Each County Councillor whose area is affected by HS2
- Chilterns Conservation Board representative
- BBOWT representative
- National Trust representative
To ensure that each area is represented at every BCMP meeting, we ask for a main contact and a ‘deputy’ representative. If you would like to nominate an additional representative or put yourself forward please let us know using the contact details below. Please also let us know if you no longer wish to be a local representative.
The Community Representatives who previously attended BCMP for the The Chalfonts and Amersham area is Stan Mason but no 'deputy' is listed.
Petitioner analysis
As discussed at the Summit, it is very important that everyone who has petitioned is supported to appear before the Select Committee. In order to help with this, we are continuing to identify all Buckinghamshire petitioners and to group by area. We know that some communities have already begun similar work – if you have not done so already, we would be grateful if you could share that with us. Once this work is complete, we will circulate a list. We would like to work together to support all petitioners.
Information Papers
Please do keep an eye on the information papers (http://www.hs2.org.uk/news-resources/information-papers) which HS2 Ltd regularly update. These are listed by topic (environment, consultation, property and compensation etc.), and within each topic there are a number of documents.
It is highly likely that HS2 Ltd will refer to the information papers in Petition Response Documents (PRDs), and therefore it is worth being aware of what information is contained within these. As explained previously, information papers are not legally binding. However if undertakings or assurances refer to information papers, this will give them additional weight. HS2 keeps a log of the changes to the information papers and they can be found at http://assets.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/info_papers/2014-09-10%20-%20HS2%20Phase%20One%20Information%20Paper%20Change%20Log%20%28v3.0%29.pdf.
Petition Response Documents (PRDs)
Petition Response Documents (PRDs) will be sent to all petitioners, and set out HS2 Ltd’s response to concerns. Warwickshire County Council’s PRD is now available and can be seen at https://wcchs2.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/petition-no-411-warwickshire-county-council-promoters-response-document.pdf. As expected, the context is fairly generic and makes reference to information papers throughout. Petitioners can expect to receive their PRD at least four weeks before their Select Committee appearance.
Aerial photographs
Aerial photos provided by HS2 Amersham Action Group can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/25055169@N02/sets/72157648314767766/ and are available for everyone to use freely. Some people have suggested overlaying the proposed route and major infrastructure sites onto a number of these photos, to demonstrate the impacts of the proposal to the Select Committee. We are currently exploring options for similar photography in other parts of the county.
Feedback forms
Thank you to everyone who completed a feedback form after the Summit. Your feedback is really useful, and influences the approach we will take when planning future community engagement and communication.
Based on feedback from the Summit, the main areas of support people need is with preparing evidence for the Select Committee, and with negotiating with HS2 Ltd. Co-ordination of petitioners is also a key area where people would like further support. We will ensure future community support is tailored to these areas.
Select Committee visit to Buckinghamshire
We are currently finalising our proposed agenda for the Select Committee visit to Buckinghamshire. We hope to circulate this towards the end of the month, and we would welcome feedback on our proposal.
We will be contacting Warwickshire CC and Oxfordshire CC about their recent Select Committee visits to gain feedback. Thank you to those who continue to send us ideas.
Contact details
We are aware that many residents are not receiving these updates directly. If you have not received this update directly from Buckinghamshire County Council, and would like to be added to our contact list, please let us know. This will ensure you receive information about all our events as soon as it is released.
Community and business support funds announced
On Friday, the Government published details of funds which will make up to £30m available for residents and local communities on Phase 1. Their press release can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/30-million-hs2-community-and-business-support-funds-launched. 51m local authorities published a rebuttal here expressing their disappointment and it can be found at http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/more-news/it-should-be-more-like-230m-anger-over-30m-hs2-community-fund-1-6351988.
Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team:
Jackie Copcutt jcopcutt@buckscc.gov.ukTel: 01296 383793
Alex Day alexday@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 382409
HS2 Blueprint Mailbox HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk
BCC HS2 Webpages: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/