Back HS2 or risk losing it Hammond tells businesses

THE business community of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands has to give its support to the development of the new high speed rail link HS2 or risk the project being consigned to the history books.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond delivered the stark warning during a visit to Birmingham’s commercial heartland to drum up support for the new £17bn line, which promises to speed up journeys between Birmingham and London to just 47 minutes.

The visit, arranged by Birmingham Forward and held at One Snowhill, attracted an audience of more than 100 from the city’s professional services community.

Explaining why the support was vital, he said: “It’s essential to get the support of the business community in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands because it is they who understand the power of a piece of transport infrastructure to transform the business environment of an area and the value if improving connectivity to improve productivity.

“These guys get it and they have to go out and sell it to the people who are asking ‘Will I have a job and will my child have a job’. My answer is that you have a greater chance of having a job and your child having a job if this goes ahead, but it’s the business community that needs to explain this.”

He said it was vital that organisations such as Birmingham Forward, who had grasped the concept, went out and explained to others the benefits the new line would bring to the city and beyond.

Mr Hammond also said there was also no room for complacency.

“My big concern is that business already thinks this is a done deal and the Government will go ahead with it regardless but that isn’t the case,” he said.

“This is a consultation; it’s not a done deal. The antis are very effective very vocal, very well financed and very determined and those in favour of HS2 need to stand up and be counted.”

Mr Hammond said he also hoped the region’s new Local Enterprise Partnerships would campaign in favour of the new line – despite many local authorities being opposed to the scheme because of the impact on the environment.

“I would hope the LEPs will determine the economic benefits of HS2. I understand the position some of the county councils are in when they are under pressure from elected councillors, often based on a misunderstanding of what the impact of the proposed line will be. I think over time we will see more of the leaders accepting the benefits that will come.

“Hopefully, once the consultation is over and the decision made then people will concentrate on how we can maximise the benefit for their region and how they can secure the investment that will be vital for their children.”

The public consultation into the scheme runs until July 29. People can visit the Department for Transport website – www.highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk – to register their comments.

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