Residents sacrifices have been in vain as HS2 becomes nothing but more broken promises
Rishi Sunak has officially announced that he is cancelling the rest of the HS2 project. It will no longer run North from Crewe and residents will have suffered and sacrificed for nothing.
HS2 is the biggest rail project ever made in the North of England. It was supposed to be the UK's zero carbon alternative for long distance travel. £24.7 billion went into the project as of June this year and now it has gone to waste.
Sarah Green, Green Party Leader of Hillingdon said: “The works are nowhere near complete, stopping would save billions of pounds and prevent further damage and pollution.”
She believes that “Rishi Sunak has done the right thing by cancelling HS2 north of Crewe. However, the running score of HS2 phase One should also now be cancelled.
The Green Party Leader suggested that the money could be repurposed to benefit the local people. For example, the Chiltern tunnels “could become much needed freshwater reservoirs”.
She explains that “The 2 large tunnels are in the chalk aquifer, they are watertight, they would naturally fill with water if the tunnel grooves were perforated and they would naturally fill and ensure long term water security for London and surrounding areas.”
Other officials have their say in the matter.
James Forrester, Managing Director of Newcastle based property developer, Stripe Property Group, commented:
"There will be no surprise at yet another Government U-turn and more broken promises that will see many businesses and homeowners alike suffer, as a result.
“Yet another example of Westminster prioritising the prosperity of the capital, with little to no regard about the rest of us that form the United Kingdom."
Forrester even makes the point that “you'd be better off walking from London to Manchester instead of waiting on this Government to deliver on its word.”
Because of the cancellation, many people could be out of a job by the time Christmas comes around.
Bradley Post, MD of finance experts, RIFT, commented:
“It will come as devastating news to the 30,000 of UK professionals working across a myriad of sectors in order to deliver the required infrastructure. People who could be essentially out of work at a time when the cost of living remains extremely high and with Christmas right around the corner."
Cancelling HS2 will affect more than just the workers.
Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, explains:
"Plans for a Euston development zone are sure to help revive the area and bring about a boost to the local property market in the process.
However, this will bring little comfort to those outside of London who will rightfully argue that the capital has benefited greatly already from the likes of HS1 and the Elizabeth Line. Talk about cutting the North off at the knees."
Co-founder and CEO of Searchland, Mitchell Fasanya, commented:
"Today's news will be hugely frustrating for the many developers who had already invested time and money based on the promised delivery of HS2 and the anticipation of a spike in market activity within locations set to benefit.
“Although, of course, the ones who are really losing out are those who would have benefited from the regeneration and delivery of new housing within their local areas."
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