Respond to the HS2 Consultation

Why respond to the consultation?

It is vital that as many people as possible respond to the consultation in order for the government to gain clear feedback about whether or not HS2 is wanted by the nation.

The government consultation on HS2 is open to everyone in Britain. HS2 will affect everyone because it will cost each parliamentary constituency £51 million for it to be built, thus taking money away from much needed resources like education and healthcare. It threatens some of Britain’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty such as the Peak Districts, and the Chilterns which could be irreversibly damaged.

Whilst British forests have been saved from being privatised by recent protests, they are now under threat from projects such as HS2 that will carve through ancient woodland, with the use of a hybrid bill that will enable the government to destroy heritage buildings and nature reserves as they please.

Taking part in the consultation is not just something for train-enthusiasts and those who live next to it, but for any concerned British citizen that does not want to see their money wasted and more debt created, and who values their countryside and natural environment. If we take away the trees, we take away our oxygen supply, and that is surely far more important than getting a business man to London 20 minutes quicker than he would otherwise have been done on two existing service lines.

How to respond to the consultation:

• The consultation consists of a survey of 7 questions which can be answered online or on paper (downloadable from the DfT website).
• If you are against HS2 we advise that you state that your are 100% opposed to it in every answer to make your position clear.
• The most effective submissions will be those that address the details of the plan and offer evidence to support their views.
• Download our suggested responses and tips for how to approach the consultation survey.
• Alternatively you may wish to include a cover sheet explaining your position concerning HS2, in which case you would need to fill out a paper version of the survey, and send to HS2 Ltd directly.
• You can also email the DfT directly with your response at highspeedrail@dft.gsi.gov.uk . If more than one member of the household is responding online, we recommend you use this method to respond, as multiple responses from the same computer may be discounted as individual repetitions.
• You have until 29th July 2011 to respond to the consultation

Useful information:

Department for Transport Consultation webpage: http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/

HS2 Ltd Address: HS2 Ltd, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU