Hundreds of residents from up and down Hillingdon borough, went to Ickenham to have their HS2 questions answered – be it by the rail link themselves or Stop HS2 campaigners.
HS2 experts and campaigners went head to head by hosting information events on the same day on Tuesday (March 8) at Ickenham Village Hall.
Lottie Jones, of Hillingdon Against HS2 said the Stop HS2 campaigners would be out in force to stop staff from the high speed rail link “spinning a yarn”.
She said: "Unfortunately, as usual, the staff at HS2 can't answer any questions and they're not able to help out the residents who need that information.
"So we're here to support those residents and hopefully give them the detail that they need".
The event was well attended, with 200 people cramming themselves into the village hall within the first hour and nearly 900 people attending in total.
HS2 had staff who were experts in engineering and construction on hand to answer questions, with maps and information boards.
Jeff Creak, principal of Hillingdon's Outdoor Activity Centre (HOAC), which is set to move to Denham so the rail link's viaduct can pass through the current site, went to the event hoping to get some answers to details regarding the lease and HOAC's move to Buckinghamshire.
He said: “We hope to achieve a similar relationship we had in Hillingdon with Buckinghamshire Council.
“Hillingdon need to be thanked for all they've done for HOAC and we hope the we can have the same support in Bucks.”
'We'll all be dead before compensation offered'
Owners of 14 Century Brackenbury House in Ickenham, Jean and Eric Gustavson, attended the event as they face major blight from the Harvil Road construction site – without compensation.
Brackenbury House is situated in a rural setting and looks over fields and mature trees, some aged 400 years, which will become a building and construction site until 2024.
Mr Gustavson said: “We're receiving no compensation for the construction phase as HS2 say it'll only be temporary disruption.
“We'll be eligible once the train is running... in 10 years. Well we'll be dead by then.”
Mr Gustavson say HS2 are an “incompetent and devious” organisation, who still have incomplete plans, six year on from the announcement of the project.
He continued: “Once it's gone through Parliament they can change anything and we'll have no redress at all.
“I'm a taxpayer and wouldn't be spending my money on this ridiculous train to cause disruption to everybody's lives.”
Arthur Dark, of Breakspeare Road South, lives 600m south of the would-be HS2, and asked experts: “How much noise there will be for the operation of HS2 would I experience?”
But he told getwestlondon HS2 didn't give him an exact answer, explaining a map showing a noise corridor either side of the track with a cut off point.
HS2 have submitted that there will be a noise corridor where residents will suffer 40 decibels within the shaded area, either side of the line, but Mr Dark says noise will continue past this on a sliding scale.
He said: “The map shows a great big noise corridor, but because I live south of it, HS2 say there won't be a problem.
“The noise corridor wouldn't end at the line surely? The map shows 40 decibels but doesn't have the full picture.
“It's not for HS2 to decide what is tolerable – it's for the people who live there to decide.”
'Real judgement comes in May' says MP
Joining residents and hearing their issues at the event were GLA candidates, as well as local MP Nick Hurd.
The Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner MP, said: "I still do not really understand why HS2 decided to press on with a presentation of their plans, when those plans are not finalised.
"There is still more work to be done to reduce traffic flows and remove soil dumps. The real judgement must come in May when those plans are revealed."
HS2 Hybrid Bill Third Reading will be heard on March 23.
