A PETITION of more than 1,000 signatures calls for better environmental planning for HS2 in Ickenham.
It has been handed to Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Conservative MP, Nick Hurd (pictured), who has promised to hand it to transport secretary Justine Greening when Parliament reconvenes.
The petition, which firstly calls for HS2 to be scrapped, was presented to Mr Hurd on Friday last week at his constituency office in Northwood by Humphrey Tizard, chairman of Ickenham Residents’ Association, along with members John Donovan and Brian Adams.
The petition was raised to reconfirm the opposition of the association to thenew route and to try to secure the best mitigation of the environmental impacts for local people, should the project go ahead.
Environmental assessments have begun in certain parts of the borough along the rail route, such as Harefield, but there have been no reports of testing in Ickenham yet.
The locations are not disclosed by HS2 Ltd, the company seeking to build the railway.
Mr Donovan told the Gazette: “The association believes there will be major disruptions for years during construction, permanent loss of the enjoyment and value of their homes as a result of the high noise levels and frequency of the trains, and a loss of amenities due to land taken for the railway.
“The petition is also intended to demonstrate the continuing opposition of the vast majority of local residents to this project.”
The association made clear to Mr Hurd their continuing total opposition to HS2 and called on him to support the community in opposing this project.
“He stated that he would always represent the views of his constituents and when Parliament reassemblies after the summer recess he would seek to present the petition,” said Mr Donovan.
The residents’ association also believes that as well as the devastating impact the high speed line would have on Ickenham and the borough as a whole, there is no business case, no environmental case and no money to pay for it.
Next month, compensation packages for homeowners affected by the line are expected to be announced, after a number of delays, and the preferred route for the Heathrow spur should be revealed.
