HS2 train line approval ‘is wrong decision’

9:30am Monday 9th January 2012 in News

A CAMPAIGNER has hit out at news a controversial plan to run a high-speed train line through the Oxfordshire countryside is set to go ahead.

Finmere resident Mike Kerford-Byrnes spoke out after it was reported the £17bn line from London to Birmingham will be approved by ministers this week.

The route would pass near Finmere, Mixbury, and Chipping Warden, north east of Banbury.

A Network Rail report this weekend ruled out suggestions the existing West Coast Main Line should be upgraded.

It said this would cause too much disruption and not tackle overcrowding.

Mr Kerford-Byrnes said: “I’m very disappointed with this report. The Government has commissioned it because other reports have been too negative.

“I care about this for my children and grandchildren.

“All evidence seems to point towards this being the wrong decision. And it’ll be my descendents who have to pay for it.”

Oxfordshire County Council was among local authorities who opposed the plans, saying it cost too much.

If approved, the HS2 line would be built between 2016 and 2026 and would aim to cut the journey time between London and Birmingham to 49 minutes.

It would be extended to the North West and North East by 2033 at a total cost of £32bn.

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A Network Rail spokesman said: “HS2 will not only transform travel between our major cities, it also represents the best solution for solving the looming capacity crunch on the West Coast Main Line.”

Comments (7)

10:14am Mon 9 Jan 12

Tom Cranmer says...

I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted.
I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted. Tom Cranmer

11:17am Mon 9 Jan 12

Heluerto says...

Money shouldnt be wasted on new lines. Instead encouragement should be given to reduce commuting, and reducing the cost of rail use to encourage more people to use it. It is more expensive to take the train on any journey around the country than it costs to drive there. From Newcastle to the Southcoast, it is cheaper to hire a car for a one-way journey including petrol than it is to get a train ticket!! Sort out the pricing before you start building new unnecessary rail lines
Money shouldnt be wasted on new lines. Instead encouragement should be given to reduce commuting, and reducing the cost of rail use to encourage more people to use it. It is more expensive to take the train on any journey around the country than it costs to drive there. From Newcastle to the Southcoast, it is cheaper to hire a car for a one-way journey including petrol than it is to get a train ticket!! Sort out the pricing before you start building new unnecessary rail lines Heluerto

11:48am Mon 9 Jan 12

West Oxon Webwatcher says...

No doubt all the Nimbies will be out again with arguements that just do not stack up such as the terrible affects it will have on the countryside. Remember those same people who argued that the M40 would create an unsightly gash through the Chilterns escarpment. You can hardly see it now. Then there are all those people who say improve the west coast main line instead. Remember how much that cost with years of upheaval and the net result was hardly any improvement for rail users with high speed Penolino trains running at way below thier high speed capacity because of a botched over expensive scheme.
No doubt all the Nimbies will be out again with arguements that just do not stack up such as the terrible affects it will have on the countryside. Remember those same people who argued that the M40 would create an unsightly gash through the Chilterns escarpment. You can hardly see it now. Then there are all those people who say improve the west coast main line instead. Remember how much that cost with years of upheaval and the net result was hardly any improvement for rail users with high speed Penolino trains running at way below thier high speed capacity because of a botched over expensive scheme. West Oxon Webwatcher

12:40pm Mon 9 Jan 12

Rangi Douglas says...

Tom Cranmer wrote:
I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted.
If you read the article, you will see that Mike Kerford-Byrnes is speaking as a local resident, not as a Councillor.

As for the £50k funding of opposition to HS2, this is sensible investment as Cherwell will incur significant planning and environmental costs, way in excess on £50k, if HS2 goes ahead - with no local benefit whatsoever from HS2.
[quote][p][bold]Tom Cranmer[/bold] wrote: I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted.[/p][/quote]If you read the article, you will see that Mike Kerford-Byrnes is speaking as a local resident, not as a Councillor. As for the £50k funding of opposition to HS2, this is sensible investment as Cherwell will incur significant planning and environmental costs, way in excess on £50k, if HS2 goes ahead - with no local benefit whatsoever from HS2. Rangi Douglas

4:26pm Mon 9 Jan 12

Tom Cranmer says...

Rangi Douglas wrote:
Tom Cranmer wrote: I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted.
If you read the article, you will see that Mike Kerford-Byrnes is speaking as a local resident, not as a Councillor. As for the £50k funding of opposition to HS2, this is sensible investment as Cherwell will incur significant planning and environmental costs, way in excess on £50k, if HS2 goes ahead - with no local benefit whatsoever from HS2.
I have read the article, which is how I reached the conclusion that he must be the councillor, although I now see he isn't the councillor for Finmere. I do not see how the £50k is a sensible investment; it didn't actually stop the plan. As I said, the No2HS2 campaign was doomed as it had cross party majority backing. I think that HS2 is an horrendous waste of money, is unsound both business wise and environmentally, and will be detrimental to other sustainable transport links but the local authorities' campaign was just throwing good money after bad.
[quote][p][bold]Rangi Douglas[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Tom Cranmer[/bold] wrote: I assume Mike Kerford-Byrnes is also the councillor who sits on Cherwell District. The council made the decision to spend £50,000 of council tax payers money funding the opposition to HS2 which appears to have been a waste of our money. HS2 had cross party parliamentary approval, and was therefore never going to be halted.[/p][/quote]If you read the article, you will see that Mike Kerford-Byrnes is speaking as a local resident, not as a Councillor. As for the £50k funding of opposition to HS2, this is sensible investment as Cherwell will incur significant planning and environmental costs, way in excess on £50k, if HS2 goes ahead - with no local benefit whatsoever from HS2.[/p][/quote]I have read the article, which is how I reached the conclusion that he must be the councillor, although I now see he isn't the councillor for Finmere. I do not see how the £50k is a sensible investment; it didn't actually stop the plan. As I said, the No2HS2 campaign was doomed as it had cross party majority backing. I think that HS2 is an horrendous waste of money, is unsound both business wise and environmentally, and will be detrimental to other sustainable transport links but the local authorities' campaign was just throwing good money after bad. Tom Cranmer

10:47pm Mon 9 Jan 12

Andrew:Oxford says...

Now this just needs to go ahead and get built.

Perhaps to speed things up a bit, the government needs to temporarily move the planned trackbed/route into a separate "council" outwith the relevant current local authorities control.
Now this just needs to go ahead and get built. Perhaps to speed things up a bit, the government needs to temporarily move the planned trackbed/route into a separate "council" outwith the relevant current local authorities control. Andrew:Oxford

11:41pm Mon 16 Jan 12

tigrrrr says...

Youre right...cant see the M40.....doesnt stop us from hearing it though....constantly and i will live alot nearer to HS than the M40


Cant sell my house either now....buyers for my area have vanished.
Youre right...cant see the M40.....doesnt stop us from hearing it though....constantly and i will live alot nearer to HS than the M40 Cant sell my house either now....buyers for my area have vanished. tigrrrr

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