Famous yard is saved from the scrapheap after HS2 deal
THE famous HW Taroni’s recycling yard in Aston has been saved from the scrapheap, along with 30 jobs, after its owners and HS2 struck a deal.
Owner Russell Taroni said he was “relieved” – but wouldn’t celebrate until the money pledged by HS2 had arrived, which is now likely to be in the next few days.
He said: “It has been a long, long journey, so unnecessary and worrying, and it’s not totally over yet.
“But we are delighted HS2 has finally listened to us and been prepared to reach an agreement that saves our company and the jobs of our staff.”
Under the terms of the new deal, the Taronis will vacate part of their yard to allow HS2 to move on, triggering a £750,000 payment that the family say they need to complete their new site nearby.
They will then be permitted to carry on trading on the rest of the yard until moving into the new purpose-built premises in early 2020.
It means the end is years of wrangling.
Controversy has raged over the fate of the scrapyard for six years, since rail giant HS2 said it was compulsorily purchasing the four-acre site as part of preparatory work for the new high speed line.
Earlier this month, the Taroni family, their employees and anti-HS2 activists from around the country held a demonstration outside the company’s Birmingham HQ, claiming the firm was at risk from going out of business after 67 years.
They portrayed HS2 as “the Grim Reaper” during a noisy protest outside the offices in Snow Hill.
Speaking on November 20, Mr Taroni said: “This is our castle, we will make a stand. They are not throwing
in
sight
after me out of my business premises without paying me for it, it’s as simple as that.”
HS2 took possession of the scrapyard on October 30, meaning the family and its staff have been “squatting” by remaining on the site without permission. The family claimed they had no choice but to keep the yard open, claiming they would otherwise have had to put the 30 employees out of work and kill off the company.
Yesterday Mr Taroni said he was “hugely relieved” that the dispute had been sorted sufficiently for a payment from HS2 to now be on its way, meaning the company could complete their new 2.4-acre site at nearby 65 Cheston Road ready to open early in the new year.
“We have always said we would move but we don’t have the money we need to finish the new site. We are borrowing up to the hilt to cover the cost of relocating and can’t do any more.
“This promised payment from HS2, which is coming any day, means we can get on with it and be in a position to leave for good in February.”
An HS2 spokesman said: “We have worked for several years to support the company’s relocation and ensure they can continue to trade in Birmingham, including making an advance payment. As requested by the company’s agents and in line with the law, a second payment will be made as soon as the land is vacated.
“We need access immediately and have made an offer to the business via their agents for them to continue operation while also enabling HS2 to access the site.”