Easing HS2 disruption costs council £1.5m

LOCAL councils and police forces have been forced to spend millions of pounds on measures to combat the effects of the HS2 construction, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. Buckinghamshire council alone has spent at least £1.5million in the last three years on officers to deal with community concerns and monitor HS2 construction teams to ensure they are following regulations.

Police forces have spent hundreds of thousands to deal with protests against the rail line, including by deploying specialist staff.

HS2 Ltd, the company set up to build the line from London to Manchester, has been constructing the first phase of its project from Euston station to the Midlands. The line has been criticised by local residents and MPs amid accusations it has disrupted residents, destroyed parts of the countryside and requisitioned land from farmers.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, this week confirmed HS2 would continue as planned, including in its second phase from Birmingham to Manchester.

The cost of the rail line has risen from its initial estimate of £37.5billion in 2009 prices, with some predicting it could reach more than £100billion.

Martin Tett, the Conservative leader of Buckinghamshire council, said the local authority had spent £500,000 a year for the last three years on mitigation measures while the construction has been taking place. “HS2’s engagement with our local residents and with our local parish and town councils has been abysmal,” Mr Tett said.

“We’ve employed two marshals, who are council officials with a white van that go around and look at things like mud on the road, people who are disrupted and at things like potholes that are caused by HS2 vehicles.

“They’ve got the powers that the council have got to try to make sure that HS2 abides by whatever regulations are in place.”

A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said: “HS2 Ltd has a range of agreements in place with local authorities to help fund costs associated with the project.

“For instance, Buckinghamshire council has been provided with a £3.9million road safety fund.”