‘The vote is won – now put HS2 on fast track’ say business leaders

OVERWHELMING MP support for the HS2 high speed rail line is a major boost to the economy of the West Midlands, business campaigners have said.

The pro-high speed rail consortium, Go-HS2, said the size of the majority in favour – 452 to 41 – showed how the significant benefits of HS2 were widely recognised and understood.

Cllr John McNicholas, chairman of transport authority Centro, said: “The West Midlands alone can secure a £4bn a year economic boost and more than 50,000 new jobs.”

He said the Commons’ vote brought HS2 a significant step closer but there was still work to be done by the region in order to maximise the potential of the £50bn scheme.

“We need to press on as a region and put in place the infrastructure we need locally to realise and maximise those benefits,” added Cllr McNicholas.

Jerry Blackett, chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: “HS2 has real potential to both solve the impending capacity problem on our existing rail network and provide an enormous boost to regeneration throughout the region.

“When we survey our members on HS2, the Chamber consistently finds that an overwhelming number of businesses believe the project will have a positive economic impact on the region.”

Paul Thandi, CEO, NEC Group, said: “This vote is excellent news as the economic benefits of HS2 will be felt not just in this region, but across the whole of the country.  

“I therefore maintain that it is imperative that a project as important as this be delivered sooner rather than later so that these economic benefits can be realised.”

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said the vote meant a major milestone in the project had been reached and the focus was now on the future.

“It is particularly good to see the cross-party support for the project, with only 41 MPs voting against and 452 in favour.  The argument for the scheme is now won and I hope that the remaining stages of legislation can be taken forward quickly,” he said.

The hybrid Bill agreed by MPs authorises the first phase of the HS2 project, linking the West Midlands with London. Work on the project with start in 2017.

A separate Bill will be brought in later to allow the second phase of the scheme – north of Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester – to go ahead.

Go-HS2 includes Centro, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Airport, the NEC Group, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, Birmingham Future and Business Birmingham.