AS ICKENHAM was reeling last week at the news that hundreds of lorries will thunder through the village during HS2 construction, now Ruislip is waking up to the fact it could also be hard hit.

In an easily overlooked section of the HS2 Ltd draft environmental impact statement (EIS), it emerges that the more northerly parts of Ruislip will not be immune to the effects of HS2.

Buried in the section dedicated to construction sites and lorry movements is a reference to ‘the A1480’: local people know it as Ruislip High Street and Bury Street, and that is where HS2 Ltd plans to send any lorries that cannot fit under the Breakspear Road railway bridge. it could mean an unknown number of them for seven years.

The vehicles would have to come and go to the West Ruislip tunnel portal work site close to West Ruislip station via the centre of the village, past the historic Manor Farm, across the narrow River Pinn bridge and along Ladygate Lane to Harvil Road. HS2 says the route would only be used for the largest lorries, and it is looking for an alternative. It could not provide any numbers, but said it would not be a ‘constant stream’.

Lottie Jones, chairwoman of Ruislip Against HS2, said the EIS was starting to make people who had thought they might be largely unaffected by HS2, because the line does not run close to their neighbourhood, sit up and take notice.

“There is a great deal of shocking detail that has been released in the draft EIS, and as we wade through it all we are more and more concerned for our community and local area,” she said.

“Ickenham and Harefield will bear the brunt of the major construction work but north Ruislip and South Ruislip will see years of traffic chaos, not to mention the matter of many more, minor construction sites where sewers, gas and electricity mains need major diversions and protection.

“Nobody is safe from the effects of HS2, and we would urge people to come to our information event on June 17 at Ruislip Golf Club to find out more, and see how they can make a difference by responding to the current consultation.”

The golf club event, from noon to 8pm, coincides with the Perivale draft EIS consultation which people living in the South Ruislip-Ickenham community forum area can attend, after John Randall MP (Con, Uxbridge and South Ruislip) complained to HS2 Ltd the local event last month was set up with little notice.

HS2 Ltd has laid on free mini-buses from the golf club car park to Perivale every two hours, from noon until 6pm.

Mrs Jones said HS2 had also omitted ‘a crucial part of Ruislip in their map book for the area.’ “However, if you read the small print it would seem that they intend on sending hundreds of HGVs through Ruislip High Street, Bury Street and along Ladygate Lane for possibly up to seven years.

“We will be facing traffic gridlock on every road in and out of Ruislip; the implications are horrendous.”