Wendover HS2 – December 2019
An open letter to our General Election candidates
The proposed HS2 line is immediately adjacent to our village centre and the current design proposals cause serious problems not only for us as residents but also for the wider community.
From the start, HS2 have insisted that a combination of viaducts and a ’cut and cover’ tunnel method will be used around Wendover. Our professional advisor has consistently pointed out the higher cost of this methodology over a ‘mined’ tunnel and the problems, damage and limitations that it will directly cause. HS2 maintain a ‘tin ear’ to our evidence. HS2 intransigence and failure to fully investigate all possible options has now resulted in three important issues emerging from our discussions with Eiffage Kier (EK), the HS2 contractor
1. EK have estimated the train noise expected. It exceeds the HS2 claims in their Environmental Statement AND World Health Organisation guidance.
2. The engineering limitation on the viaduct to the South of Wendover means there is a vehicle traffic restriction that will prohibit any future road widening to cope with the 30,000 homes planned for the Aylesbury area.
3. The planned ‘cut and cover’ tunnel will cause problems cutting through the aquifer off of Coombe Hill, cutting the supply of water to the Wendover Arm canal and the Weston Turville reservoir. This is a known problem but EK are unwilling to investigate this further until after ‘notice to proceed’ has been given.
If HS2 is to go ahead, we know that the mined tunnel approach is the right one: it is cheaper to build and will avoid the problems caused by the current HS2 tunnel design.
With feelings running high locally our votes at the election will be influenced by your stance on HS2. We are ready and waiting to hear it
Ron Petersen, Chair, Wendover HS2