HS2 ‘is deliberately underplaying impact of demolitions on borough’

MPS ED Miliband and Caroline Flint, inset, have backed Doncaster Council after it said HS2 had “deliberately attempted to underplay the impact” of demolitions across the borough.

The council was responding to the Working Draft Environmental Statement, a report by rail chiefs on the loss of properties, jobs, businesses and woodland due to HS2.

HS2 had claimed there would be 19 demolitions on the Shimmer estate in Mexborough but this has since tripled in number, much to the anger of councillors and MPs.

In a joint letter to rail bosses, the MPs said HS2 had “severely eroded” the trust of communities and added the current route was “the wrong choice”.

They also raise concerns about the effects on employment at Denaby and other communities such as Hickleton, Sprotbrough, High Melton, Marr and Clayton. In a letter to constituents, Mr Miliband said Government should not be “allowed to hide away” and urged Minister Nusrat Ghani to visit residents in Mexborough to hear their views. Mr Miliband said: “Doncaster Council has produced a comprehensive and devastating document which I fully endorse.” A spokesman for HS2 previously said: “We have always been very clear that our early plans for the railway between Birmingham and Leeds would continue to evolve. In October we published new information outlining the land required to support construction of the railway and our commitment to minimising the impacts as it travels through Yorkshire. This does represent an increase in the number of properties required and we have always been clear that this would be the case. “Recognising the unique nature of the Shimmer Estate, the whole development was safeguarded in 2016. This enabled all eligible homeowners to sell their property to the Government and receive compensation.”