They Blog For You

An email arrived from some constituents today drawing my attention to a website from a pro-HS2 organisation called Yes to HS2 or Campaign for High Speed Rail. It’s a free country so the supporters of HS2 are as entitled as its opponents to ount a campaign. But I was a bit [...]

Greengauge 21 is a company that has long supported High Speed Rail, and has weighed in behind the HS2 proposal. They’ve recently published a report in which they argue that it would be possible for the government to link HS2 to improvements to local rail services that would give people [...]

Those of you who are already members of BBOWT (the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) will already know of their concern about the impact of the HS2 plan on the natural environment. They’ve spelled out their concerns in detail on their web site which you can link to here. [...]

I’ve finally had a reply from the Ombudsman to the letter that I sent her back in January asking if she would in principle be able to investigate claims of maladministration by the panel making decisions about the Exceptional Hardship Scheme. She has said that she does have that power, [...]

The Chilterns Multiple Sclerosis Centre has for years operated out of  what amount to portakabins at the top of the hill by what used to be the Princess Mary RAF Hospital on the border between Wendover and Halton. Dedicated staff, supported by an amazing team of volunteers, provide therapy for [...]

Today the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond MP, launched the public consultation on HS2.  I have included below some important pieces of information which will help you to respond to it. The consultation documents can be found on the dedicated HS2 consultation web-site here. On the consultation web-site there is [...]

I still haven’t been told when the public consultation will start but rumours abound that it will be on the very last day of February.  I’ve been involved in a whole series of preparatory meetings: with representatives of local campaigns and amenity groups; with the District and County Councils, and [...]

I have received notification that BT will be installing super-fast fibre optic broadband capability in Wendover. The investment project, which should be completed by Spring 2012, will allow roughly 3,500 Wendover premises to enjoy internet speeds of up to 40 Mb/s. BT plans to invest £2.5bn to deliver fibre-optic capabilities to up [...]

The Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced today that he is designating HS2′s Route Three (the Misbourne Valley) as his preferred route on which he will go to public consultation during 2011. I shall put a link to Hansard up here as soon as it becomes available. You can see Mr Hammond’s statement  [...]

The Aylesbury Indian Cultural Society’s annual Diwali party is one of the constituency events that I most enjoy. The mood is that of a big, informal family do. Everyone is encouraged to take to the dance floor and even my somewhat awkward Bollywood steps (I might give Ann Widdecombe a run [...]

Please find below the reply that I received from the Secretary of State for Transport to the letter that I forwarded to him on behalf of Wendover HS2 Action Group (see high speed rail post dated 11 October).  [...]

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The new Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, was in Aylesbury on Thursday evening as part of his programme of visits to the areas affected by the proposed High Speed Two line. Earlier in the day, he had travelled with officials to look at the stretch of  proposed route that runs through [...]

Please find below two letters that I have written to the Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd about the impact that the proposed route will have on the surrounding area.     [...]

On 9th July, I attended the opening of the Robert Mews Workshops. The workshops are a series of refurnished out buildings that will be used by local artists. To find out about future art events in Buckinghamshire please visit Bucks Open Studios. Picture from the Bucks Herald [...]

Please find below the letter that I received from the Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond MP, to my letter dated 13th May. [...]

I would like to inform all constituents that the Exceptional Hardship Scheme consultation regarding HS2 has been extended to 17th June 2010. The consultation is about a voluntary purchase scheme for property owners who properties may be affected by any new high speed rail link between London and the West Midlands. Your [...]

Please find below the letter that I sent to the new Transport Secretary, The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, on the day his appointment was announced. I will of course put up the response that I receive. Letter to the New Transport Secretary- 13-05-10 [...]

A group of local residents have put together a persuasive critique of the compensation scheme now out for consultation until 20 May. They have drawn upon the experience of the Channel Tunnel Link, Crossrail and BAA to propose an alternative model involving  a transferable guarantee of compensation, which would allow [...]

I wote to the Transport Minister Sadiq Khan on 31 March to express concern that the government’s proposed six month timetable for public consultation was inadequate, given that it was supposed to cover the entire route from Euston to Staffordshire and the six months would include Christmas and the New [...]