Transport
Consider for action
Circular ref: 06/12
Ralph Smyth, Senior Transport Campaigner
1. On 10 January the Government announced its decision to develop a new high speed rail network. A useful summary, including a timetable of next steps, can be found here: www.dft.gov.uk/publications/hs2-governments-decisions/
2. This circular aims to signpost the field to CPRE research, policy, and recommendations about HS2. It also highlights forthcoming opportunities for it to influence the proposals for HS2 as well as the broader transport network policy during 2012, so is not only relevant to branches along the route.
CPRE national position and evidence-base
3. CPRE’s July 2011 response to the Government’s High Speed Rail explains how our position was reached through a combination of research and field engagement. It can be found together with our other rail reports here: www.cpre.org.uk/resources/transport/rail
4. In April 2011, CPRE led the setting up of the Right Lines Charter, a broad coalition of NGOs ‘for doing High Speed Rail well’. Recent updates include a report suggesting next steps for the new Secretary of State, a report from an expert seminar on improving public engagement and responses from Charter signatories to the HS2 decision. These are available here: http://rightlines.org.uk/
5. To inform our work on this issue going forward Policy Committee is considering a paper about HS2 on 2 February. The paper is available here: www.cpre.org.uk/policy/policy-committee-meetings/item/download/1648
Opportunities for branches
6. Concerns about HS2 relate both to the detailed route and broader transport policy, including the justification for a new railway line. It may be helpful, therefore, to consider the options for engagement in 2012 separately in terms of phases 1 (London to the West Midlands) and 2 (Midlands to Manchester and Leeds) of HS2 as well as national policy for major transport infrastructure.
7. We expect the Government to consult on a significant quantity of high level transport policy in the coming months. We expect a draft National Networks National Policy Statement (NPS), covering trunk roads, rail and rail freight interchanges, to be published for consultation in February. Although the Planning Act 2008, which introduced NPSs, is not intended to be used to authorise HS2, the NPS will cover HS2 in some detail. The Government is due to publish a Rail White Paper in the same month, which will deal with the structure of the rail industry, in particular fares and scope for devolving control of local lines. There may well be further consultation in relation to this. In March it is due to consult on a new Sustainable Framework for Aviation, broadly equivalent to an NPS and replacing the 2003 Air Transport White Paper.
8. Initial proposals for phase 2 are due to be delivered in confidence to the Secretary of State by the end of March. Although formal consultation is planned for January 2014, informal engagement is planned in the autumn. It is not currently known, however, what form this may take.
9. Formal consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for phase 1 is due to start in Spring 2013 and the hybrid bill to authorise it is due in Autumn 2013. The detailed design and scoping of the Environmental Impact Assessment for phase 1 is starting now, however, and in March HS2 Ltd intends to set up an Environment Forum (involving national bodies such as CPRE), Planning Forums (involving local planning authorities) and Community Forums (involving representation of local interests) to facilitate engagement with these processes. Localities delay in engaging on mitigation and compensation are very likely to secure less beneficial outcomes.
10. There is clearly a huge amount of work to be done this year and, with only one member of staff covering transport at national office, there is a need to prioritise very carefully. Following the success of the two previous HS2 branch seminars, it is suggested that two separate seminars are held this year. One to involve the field in our response to the National Networks NPS and to inform field responses. The other would be to bring branches together to discuss issues around avoidance, mitigation (including design) and compensation in relation to HS2.
Next steps
11. Branches are requested to let national office know how many of their members might be interested in attending either seminar by 17 February and of any capacity to be involved in campaigning on national transport issues this year. If branches are involved in local HS2 forums and are proposing local mitigation and so it would be very helpful if they would keep national office informed. Please direct correspondence to Ralph Smyth using ralphs@cpre.org.uk.
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