Business leaders urge Government to approve HS2

BUSINESS leaders from across the West Midlands have joined with union bosses and academics to urge the Government to approve plans for the £17bn high speed rail link between Birmingham and London.

In letters to the national press, the three groups said the approval would lead to massive economic benefits, including new jobs and investment.

The government is due to make the final decision on the rail scheme this month having delayed the move by a month in order to consider alternative plans for a new tunnel minimising the impact of the rail line on an area of the Chilterns.

The letter states: “As business leaders and job-creators, we recognise that Britain’s poor infrastructure is a major obstacle to our long-term growth.”

It continues:  “High-speed rail has, for decades, proven itself as an effective mode of transport around the world. In addition to complementing traditional transport systems, high-speed rail allows us to get goods and services to market in a secure and timely manner, as well as facilitating our ability to reach new customers.”

Signatories include Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP chairman Andy Street, Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, Adrian Bland, head of real estate at Wragge & Co, Christine Braddock, principal of Birmingham Metropolitan College and Geoff Inskipp, chief executive of transport authority, Centro.

Others to have added their names are: Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, Greg Lowson, senior partner at Pinsent Masons, Peter Mathews, of Black Country Metals and the Black Country LEP, Gareth Morgan, of Birmingham Future, Neil Rami, Marketing Birmingham, Adrian Shooter, chairman of the CBI in the West Midlands and the former chairman of Chiltern Railways, Ian Stringer, of GVA, Paul Thandi, chief executive of the NEC Group, Simon Topman, of Acme Whistles and David Waller, of the Network Group.

The new route would revolutionise rail travel in the UK, shortening the journey between Birmingham and London to around 47 minutes.

Birmingham would become the national high speed hub under the plan with a major new station in Curzon Street, close to Millennium Point.

North of Lichfield the line would split with separate spurs heading off towards Leeds and Manchester.

It is estimated the new service would will create 22,000 jobs within the West Midlands and be worth £1.5bn per year to the regional GDP.