HS2 Ltd has until March to prove that its traffic mitigation proposal consisting of a haul road through Uxbridge Golf Course is the best option for Hillingdon .

Hillingdon Council , Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, as well as petitioning residents, had their chance to speak at the HS2 Select Committee on Monday January 25.

The committee heard the new proposal by residents of The Drive to change the location of the haul road so that it utilises a disused railway line instead of the golf course.

Cllr Ray Puddifoot , Ickenham councillor and leader of Hillingdon Council, explained that HS2 want to stick to their original haul road plan.

He said: “What we (Hillingdon Council) managed to get on the traffic point, is for HS2 to look at it again and if we couldn't come to an agreement then we'd get a third party to have a look at it for expert opinion, which would go to the Secretary of State for Transport to make a decision.

"HS2 Ltd were unclear exactly how many HGV movements there would be as they stated a figure of 550 but also that this could 'go up or down'.

“The Select Committee and TfL have asked HS2 to come up with the best solution for traffic and they're saying it's their haul road.

“Until that is disproved, that is the working model. There is no way the Select Committee would instruct them to look at other routes at the same time.

“By the end of March they've got to come up with their definitive plan, with studies, with the number of vehicles that will go down the haul road and proving that it will not cause gridlock.

“They have to factor in the contractor's vehicles as well, not just the ones removing the spoil.

“There'll be a lot of people moving in and out during the day and they need to factor in those movements as well.”

'Havoc for ordinary people'

Topics of compensation for Uxbridge Golf Course, West Ruislip Golf Course, and the Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre (HOAC) were discussed as well spoil dumping due to the Copthall cutting.

Cllr Puddifoot continued: “The focus is nailing them down on the traffic situation, that's the important thing.

“This is life threatening, it's going to cause havoc for ordinary people trying to get to work across the A40.

“If it was going to cause a pile up on the A40 that's the sort of devastating aspect you don't want. So it is the traffic mitigation that is our priority.”

The Conservative council leader is sceptical about the whole project going ahead and hopes central government will see sense and speak out.

He added: “It's so poor a business case you couldn't make it up, it's abysmal.

“If you've got pots of money it's fine.

“But when you haven't got money for schools, roads, flood defences and new hospitals why on earth do we need to get to Birmingham 12 minutes quicker is beggar's belief.”

MP Nick Hurd says the next six months “will be critical” in ensuring mitigation for Hillingdon.

He said: “Over many years residents, MPs and the Council have campaigned together for Hillingdon to get proper protection from the terrible impacts of HS2.

"Thanks to that work, I can now see a scenario where we will have achieved better compensation; the saving of HOAC; and a traffic solution that we could live with through gritted teeth.

"I also believe that we could get rid of the soil dumps and move the power station further away from South Harefield.

"It is not as good an outcome as the tunnel we wanted but it is a lot better than where we started. However, we are not there yet.

"Despite assurances being given and that was what I wanted to emphasise to the committee, the next six months will be critical and I will be holding HS2’s feet to the fire to deliver on their commitments.”