Residents angered as HS2 closes footpaths

HS2 has been urged to do more to flag the controversial works at local level in Solihull, amid warnings vanishing hedgerows and fenced-off footpaths have left residents “very upset”.

There has been a fresh call for more engagement with locals to avoid instances of communities being caught off guard when workmen move in.

Andrew Burrow, from Berkswell Parish Council, was concerned about the consultation to date and urged Solihull

Council to act as “a referee” in dealing with some of the more contentious projects on the horizon.

HS2 Ltd has insisted that the project and its contractors are working hard to engage with the public and there had been very few complaints about construction in recent months.

Although at this week’s meeting of the HS2 implementation advisory group it was suggested the issues raised through an official helpline don’t reflect the true scale of concerns in areas like Balsall Common and Berkwell.

“To say that residents have been surprised at HS2’s impact on the community would be a bit of an understatement,” said Mr Burrow.

He suggested “a lack of information” was partly to blame and said more work was needed to try and secure a better deal on key elements of the scheme.

On issues like the design of Berkswell viaduct and a replacement for Kenilworth Greenway he argued the borough council needed to intercede to help try and broker agreements.

“We don’t just want to be presented with a fait accompli it would be helpful if Solihull could stand in the middle and referee and poach and move the thing further forward.”

Cllr Diane Howell (Con, Meriden) had argued that sometimes it was the more low-key projects on people’s doorstep – such as vegetation clearance and footpath closures – which were causing the most tension.

“You gave an example of how you communicated the temporary motorway and major highway closures and I agree you did an absolutely fantastic job of that,” she said.

“But it’s the stuff that is going on in our communities where residents live – what you may perceive as perhaps the smaller pieces of work – that is actually causing far greater upset to our community.

“That is the stuff that is not being cascaded down to residents in advance particularly well.”

Cllr Steve Caudwell (Green, Castle Bromwich) said he would like to see a “rolling plan” introduced, flagging when things would actually happen.