HS2 ‘in constant denial’ over the impact of road closures
FURIOUS RESIDENT SAYS THE SIGHT OF HGVS TRUNDLING PAST HIS COTTAGE IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE
HS2 has been accused of abdicating all responsibility for road closures attached to the scheme in Warwickshire. Furious resident Mark Hancock says the sight of HGVS trundling past the front of his cottage near Hunningham has become a near constant occurrence since parts of the Fosse Way nearby were closed a few weeks ago.
He says vehicles are deliberately ignoring the diversions in place, including HS2’S own contractors, and says many other motorists are simply confused by the road signs. “The biggest culprit by far is HS2 itself, whose vehicles do not follow their own diversions for the sake of saving a few miles,” Mr Hancock told the Telegraph.
“One company in particular uses this shortcut regularly with a constant round robin of eightwheelers in two-way traffic.”
Not only is the rumbling of heavy machinery said to be breaching the peace, it’s also ripping up the roads resulting in three or four tyre blowouts every day, Mr Hancock claims.
“It’s got so bad that I’ve started to hand out forms for people to give to Warwick District Council’s
pothole insurance claims team,” he said. “It must happen on a near daily basis. Heaven knows how many people have missed appointments because they have had tyre blowouts.
“I’ve had sections of the Bascote tunnel go past. It makes my blood boil. I told one AA engineer to leave his van in the area because he’d just be called out again.
“My cottage is 30 yards from the road so it doesn’t shake the building as such, but it leaves me shaking. HS2 is in constant denial about the impact their road closures are having on local residents and businesses.
“The council acknowledge there’s a problem, but say they won’t repair the roads until much of the construction locally is finished.” A landscape gardener and part-time farmer, Mr Hancock said Long Itchington Road where he lives was never deathly quiet because of the direct access it offers to Stoneleigh and, further on, to the University of Warwick.
But he said the volume of traffic had increased significantly since roadworks started in the area and diversions were put in place three months ago. “Trying to get anywhere is chaotic,” the 62-year-old added. “I can barely get out (of the driveway) in the mornings.
“It’s driving me to my wit’s end. Hopefully a lot of it will be alleviated when the roads reopen, but there’s no guarantees.”
HS2 is currently building two new roundabouts on the B4455 Fosse Way in Offchurch to ‘create a safer road network around the new railway.’ A permanent roundabout at the junction of Fosse Way and Welsh Road, and a temporary roundabout at the junction of Fosse Way and Long Itchington Road (National Cycle Route 41), will ‘help keep road users moving on an improved network throughout HS2 construction and railway operation.’
HS2 says it is working closely with the local authorities to put ‘fully signed diversions in place’ and has ‘kept local communities and businesses informed.’ A spokesman added: “HS2 takes it responsibilities to local communities very seriously and we try to minimise impacts wherever possible.
“Long Itchington Road is not part of our official diversion route and we’ve recently installed additional signage to try to prevent people from using the road. Long Itchington Road is also not used by HS2 construction traffic and all of our HGVS have been issued with HS2 specific routes so drivers know where they can and can’t go.”
Warwick District Council was approached for comment.
My cottage is 30 yards from the road so it doesn’t shake the building as such, but it leaves me shaking Resident
Mark Hancock