TODAY'S announcement by HS2 Limited that it will tunnel underneath Ealing borough is a huge victory for campaigners.
The decision follows months of lobbying against original plans that could have seen hundreds of homes and businesses demolished to make way for the multi-billion high speed rail line between London and Birmingham.
HS2 is now recommending to the Secretary of State for Transport that a nine kilometre tunnel is built between North Acton and Northolt, linking with the tunnel in West Ruislip. This will make it the longest tunnel on the route at 14km.
Angie Bray, Conservative MP for Ealing Central and Acton said: "This is great news for residents across the part of my constituency most affected. It will mean we’re spared the inevitable jam-ups that would’ve taken place along the Hanger Lane gyratory system.
“It’s also great for all the small businesses who would’ve been affected along the route. Obviously we’re still awaiting confirmation from the secretary of state but everything is pointing in the right direction.”
Steve Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North, said the news that a tunnel connecting Ruislip and Kings Cross is now the recommended option comes as a massive relief to the people of Northolt, Greenford and Perivale.
He said: “Anyone with an ounce of intelligence could see that the proposal to knock down and rebuild every bridge alongside the central line was a complete non starter and would have cut the borough in two while condemning us to years of gridlock.
“Sanity has prevailed and my constituents will breathe a deep sigh of relief while wondering why they have been put through years of misery in anticipation of the greatest blight in Ealing North since the great plague and the fire of London.”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Residents and businesses can now breathe a huge sigh of relief with the excellent news that the government has listened to the compelling arguments we set out to tunnel HS2 throughout the whole borough.
“There will no doubt be celebrations in homes and businesses and this is a victory for the course of action we took with the support of our amazing residents.”
Alex Nieora, Chairman of North Ealing Against HS2, said that it’s a great triumph for grassroots activism and for residents acting in cooperation with Ealing council.
After the announcement, plans have to go through parliament and then to the joint committee stage.
The council lodged an objection to the original scheme because of the disruption it would cause locally and due to lack of detail in the plans.
HS2 Limited agreed in August 2012 to carry out a study into a tunnel option, following pressure from Ealing Council and local residents.
Council leader Julian Bell, Mr Mahfouz and local MP Steve Pound met with the Minister of State for Transport, Simon Burns, last December (2012) to appeal on behalf of residents in Greenford, Northolt, Perivale and Acton.
The study found a tunnel was the best option because a surface route would have caused more disruption to traffic, cost as much or more than a tunnel, and would have taken longer to build.
HS2 Ltd community and stakeholder manager for London, Peter Fry, said: “The recommendation to build a tunnel through Ealing and Northolt shows what can be done by working with local people and that we value their input and suggestions.”
