Farmers left 'suicidal' amid ongoing HS2 chaos
Date of alert:
Friday 8 December 2023
Crime Ref:
Force:
National
Landowners and farmers have been left feeling ‘suicidal' owing to the lack of action by the Government following the cancellation of the HS2 trainline, MPs have been told.
Rail consultant Trevor Parkin, who has also co-authored several technical papers relating to HS2, told Members of the Commons' Transport Select Committee he believed HS2 Ltd officials were ‘dragging their feet' and added that they could be hoping for ‘another policy U-turn following a General Election'.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced at the Conservative Party Conference in October, the high-speed rail line would not be continuing beyond Birmingham. This has left more than 2,900 acres of land purchased between Birmingham and Crewe abandoned alongside property on the final leg to Manchester thought to be worth around £400 million of public money.
