7:30am Friday 23rd July 2010
By Andy Carswell
CAMPAIGNERS have branded a Government report looking at plans for a high speed railway station at Heathrow Airport as “a missed opportunity”.
Plans for a new high speed line between London and Birmingham – which would cut through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and go through tunnels under Amersham and the Chalfonts if given the go-ahead – have caused anger among Buckinghamshire residents.
Proposals for the line to include a stop at Heathrow were considered in a report by Lord Mawhinney – who said there was “no compelling case” for this.
But campaigners protesting against the scheme said Lord Mawhinney should also have re-considered the entire project, known as High Speed 2.
Mark Adams, spokesman for the newly-formed Conserve the Chilterns and Countryside campaign group, said: “Lord Mawhinney’s report is a missed opportunity which flies in the face of the Coalition Government’s policy. Lord Mawhinney is making recommendations based on rushing ahead with the misguided route recommended under the previous administration.
“This was a chance to step back and look at correcting the mistakes of the previous Government’s plans. Other options should be explored fully.”
Members of the Chilterns Society also hit out at the report's findings.
Chairman John Taylor said: “This undermines one of the 'absolute requirements' of the original terms of reference for the HS2 study. That requirement, to link HS2 to a 'Heathrow International Station', was a key factor in determining that the HS2 route would have to cross the Chilterns.
“It also constrained HS2 Ltd from thoroughly evaluating alternative routes that would have avoided the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“Lord Mawhinney's report confirms the need for a thorough examination of all the options for high speed rail links between London and the north, including options to avoid the Chilterns AONB.”
In his report, Lord Mawhinney said the full High Speed 2 project was “not a matter” for him – but added he “hoped it will become policy” that the line would eventually be extended to Scotland.
The report recommended a separate loop line be built to Heathrow from Old Oak Common.
Lord Mawhinney said a direct link to the airport should only be considered once the high speed network has been extended “at least to Manchester and Leeds”.
He said: “I recommend that when the high speed line from London-Old Oak Common to Birmingham is built, appropriate junction engineering works should be included to make it possible for a high speed loop through Heathrow to be built at a later date.
“There is no compelling case for a direct high speed rail link to Heathrow, and that a London-Old Oak Common interchange could provide an appropriate, good quality terminus and connection point to the airport.
“I judge it to be important that Heathrow should be made as accessible as possible by both high speed and traditional rail infrastructure. In my view this is more likely to take place if a staged building approach is adopted, in accordance with a pre-agreed master plan.”
The report said the plan “should be concluded and agreed within the next two years”.
Lord Mawhinney “commended” Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond MP and his predecessor Lord Adonis in his report for “having a vision for the future of public transport – with rail services at its heart – which stands in contrast to what was in danger of becoming a national antipathy to a more integrated transport system”.
Several local authorities, including Buckinghamshire County Council, were asked for their views while the report was being made.
Tim Bellamy, Transport and Regeneration Manager at the council, said in a letter to the Department for Transport: “It is evident that the business case for enhanced access to Heathrow from HS2 via an ‘in airport’ or ‘near airport’ station has not been proved.
“Buckinghamshire County Council would strongly suggest that more time is given to investigate how Heathrow links with HS2, with particular regard given to the detrimental impact of the suggestions on the local community, environment and transport networks.”
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