THE controversial High Speed Rail link between Birmingham and London has received a masive shot-in-the-arm after being backed by business leaders, their public sector counterparts and surprisingly, a new residents group.
Go-HS2 is a collaboration between organisations such as The NEC Group, Birmingham Airport, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, inward investment agency Business Birmingham and public bodies Birmingham City Council, Solihull Borough Council and transport authority Centro.
The rail link has also received support from a group of residents in and around the West Midlands who believe the project is of such high economic importance it cannot be rejected.
Deborah Smith, who represents Hands Up for High Speed Rail 2, said “This is about supporting a project that would create a more robust region for our children to inherit, by making the West Midlands the economic heart of the UK -not just the geographic one.”
Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, said: “Go-HS2 galvanises support for the project within the business and public sector and enables us to speak with one voice on what we believe is the biggest opportunity for wealth and job creation in a generation.
“HS2 can bring 22,000 new jobs to the West Midlands and boost its economy by £1.5bn a year and it’s this potential for regeneration combined with its ability to meet future rail demand that makes the case.”
Neil Rami, head of Business Birmingham, said: “Birmingham is a business city that must be served by first class transport links if it is to deliver the private sector jobs its economy is demanding.
“International investors we speak with are underlining the importance for their business of operating in a country with a 21st century rail network, which for them means high-speed rail connections.”
Paul Thandi, chief executive of The NEC Group, said the link offered huge growth opportunities for the region and for the exhibition centre in particular.
“The NEC site alone, which is also home to the LG Arena as well as the exhibition centre, attracts more than three million visitors each year – 70% of which are from outside the West Midlands, and 10% outside the UK.
“We create 25,000 jobs and generate £1.8bn economic impact – so with time being one of the most precious commodities, if it’s easier and faster to get to us, then this is a great advantage – attracting even more visitors from a broader market that, in turn, will greatly benefit the wider regional economy.”
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said HS2 would make Birmingham more attractive to companies looking to relocate from the South East, helping to bring jobs and investment to the region.
Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said HS2 should be considered as a new national network.
“The first element – from London to Birmingham – means the West Midlands can be an early beneficiary, as the UK economy becomes more balanced and less London-centric,” he said.
