Boris Johnson had a tour of Ruislip , to see for himself the effects HS2 will have on his constituents.
The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP, joined by Hillingdon councillors, met with campaigners against the high-speed rail link on Friday (January 8).
Residents representing Herlwyn Avenue, Lawn Close, Almond Close, Roundways and West End Road had a chance to put their concerns forward and into context.
Lottie Jones of Hillingdon Against HS2, said: “We discussed the unfairness of the Select Committee process and the knock on effect of not being able to achieve the much-needed mitigation of an extended tunnel through Hillingdon and the Colne Valley.
“We went through various maps to help put the problems into perspective and we felt he very much understood the frustration we still face with HS2 Ltd’s illogical planning.”
Mr Johnson was shown how HS2 have misled residents about the depth of tunnel and met traders who told him of their worries that utility works would affect their businesses .
HS2 have allocated £30 million for a community fund for the whole route which campaigners say will go “nowhere” once spread it.
Mrs Jones said: “How do you quantify the loss from a huge park to a little shop?
“We’re trying to persuade Boris to claim from a specific Hillingdon pot to help people - then it can be allocated where it’s needed, rather than leaving individuals to do it.
“He said he can get behind us on that.”
At the next stop, the group showed Boris the problems that the utility works could cause to the park and green space ‘Banana Park’ and highlighted the flooding that often occurs under the bridges on West End Road and Bridgewater Road.
Mrs Jones was glad to have the opportunity to spend more time with Boris as MP and to “hit home the message” that HS2 is just wrong on every level
She added: “Ultimately he couldn’t disagree with us.
“The message we wanted to get through was, why is it coming through Hillingdon at all?
“It only ever skewed west as the original plan was to take it via Heathrow and that route was scrapped - so our frustration is that HS2 should never come here in the first place.”
Hillingdon Against HS2 will continue to work closely with Boris over the next few months and will be looking to him to help them make progress in getting their message to David Higgins at HS2 Ltd and the government.
