County council to discuss impact of HS2 on the area

CABINET members are being asked next week to support the county council taking a lead role in ensuring its voice is heard around the potential impacts of the HS2 rail line project.

The council says HS2 could bring travel improvements and significant economic benefits of at least £40 million per year.

It is proposing a ‘full and proactive’ approach in representing Leicestershire’s communities and working closely with HS2 Ltd, East Midlands Councils and other stakeholders in having a say around the development of the Phase 2B proposals.

Blake Pain, county council cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “HS2 is impossible for us to ignore as we’ll still have statutory responsibilities around road closures and we’ll also be approached by local residents with their concerns.

“It’s vital that we have an input at an early stage into the impact on Leicestershire and we can only achieve that by taking on a leadership role. We want to put the county in the strongest position possible to get the most out of HS2 through supply chain benefits as well as mitigating the impact on local residents.”

HS2 Ltd are expected to publish details on how they propose to minimise environmental impacts of the project, which links London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester, before the end of the year.

However the council has spelled out some of the specific issues which they want to discuss with HS2 so as to limit disruption to residents and businesses.