Camden submits petition against the Government’s Additional Provision (AP2) to the HS2 Hybrid
Camden Council has today petitioned against the Government’s second Additional Provision (AP2) to the HS2 Hybrid Bill.
We remain opposed to HS2 due to the decade and more of disruption it will bring to the borough’s residents and businesses. However, if HS2 goes ahead, we will argue, by every means possible, to ensure that we get the best deal for Camden. We want a commitment to a properly funded plan that improves the existing Euston Station and benefits Camden.
While AP2 does not cover Camden or the Euston area directly, it does include changes at Old Oak Common, which may have a knock-on impact on our borough.
AP2 includes works to provide a passive provision, which would allow for a potential link between Crossrail and the West Coast Mainline at Old Oak Common. But the proposed works only allow a link to be built sometime in the future; it is not an actual link between the two lines. Proper provision of a Crossrail-West Coast Mainline link at Old Oak Common could free up capacity at Euston, and reduce the duration of the impacts of the scheme on Camden residents and businesses.
Comprehensive station design at Euston would allow the vision of the Euston Area Plan to be fulfilled, which includes plans for affordable housing, new jobs and replacement open space, achieved through a comprehensive development of the station with tracks on one level.
Another of the amendments included in AP2 facilitates the removal of spoil from the Euston Tunnel by rail through OOC station to the Atlas Road satellite compound located nearly 1km away. The Council’s petition requests that these facilities are also used for spoil removed from the HS2 sites in Camden, including Euston Station.
The Council’s petition also reiterates our concern that without the publication of the revised plans for Euston Station, we are still unable to comment fully on the Government and HS2 Ltd.’s plans for the Euston area.
Councillor Phil Jones, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning said:
“A proper link between Crossrail and the West Coast Mainline could free up capacity at Euston and help reduce the duration of the HS2 works that will have such a negative effect upon the lives of local residents.
“We are also petitioning for changes to allow spoil to be removed from Euston via rail instead of road. Camden’s streets are set to be clogged with polluting HGVs during HS2’s construction so we are determined to press for revisions to minimise this impact on the community.”
You can read AP2 and the accompanying Environmental Statement (ES) on the Government website. Find out more here.
Full details on petitioning on AP2 are on the Government website. You can also read documents on how to petition on amendments to the HS2 Bill on our website.
Ends.
Notes to editors:
Our petition against AP2 can be read here.
Camden Council opposes plans for HS2 as currently proposed. If the Government does go ahead with the scheme, Camden is committed, by every means possible, to securing the best deal for our communities. Find out more
Camden’s petition to AP2 also reminds the House of the Council’s principal request (submitted with its original petition in May 2014) that the Bill be amended to allow for a temporary London terminus at Old Oak Common.
Our petition to AP2 follows our earlier petition against the Hybrid Bill, which can be viewed here