All three Hillingdon MPs have written to the new chairman of HS2 urging him to end the uncertainty over the Heathrow Airport spur.
Joining forces with neighbour Dominic Grieve (Con, Beaconsfield), whose constituency will also be severely impacted by the effects of HS2 and through which the link would pass, MPs Nick Hurd (Con, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner), John Randall, (Con, Uxbridge and South Ruislip) and John McDonnell (Lab, Hayes and Harlington) have written to Sir David Higgins asking hm to urgently the case for the spur and arguing ‘that there is a serious case for dropping this option now.’
A preferred route for the spur – south from an interchange to the west of Ickenham via Denham and Iver Heath – was set out last year, but at the same time the Government announced it would put it on hold until phase two of the line, from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester, were built, projected for 2033.
In their letter the MPs argue that, even if Heathrow Airport is chosen as the preferred UK hub airport and gets a third runway as a result, travellers heading to the airport from the north of England on HS2 could change at Old Oak Common, and there are adequate links with the airport out of London using existing transport.
Sir David's response simply sets out his role in delivering HS2 'as efficiently and effectively as possible, to maximise the benefits that the railway will bring to the UK'. He goes on to remind the MPs of the existence of the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for phase two of the project, intended to assist property owners impacted by the proposed spur.
