Lichfield council says no to HS2
Only one member of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP board has refused to pledge support for the high speed rail (HS2) proposals.
At a recent board meeting, LEP board members discussed the government’s proposals set out in its consultation document The High Speed Rail – Investing in Britain’s Future.
Only Lichfield District Council refused to agree to 'strongly support' the proposals.
The remaining members pledged their agreement for the HS2 to be given the go-ahead, stating that the scheme would "significantly improve the LEP area's competitive advantage, moving spend towards the West Midlands and beyond".
Chair of the LEP, Andy Street, said: "It is essential to both our immediate and future generations to make the right choice when we are faced with such an important decision and the HS2 consultation is a positive step forward in this nationally significant project."
Estimates suggest that the creation of HS2 could generate 40,000 new jobs, 8,000 of which will be in the West Midlands.
The board said it noted the fact that Lichfield District Council, one of its local authority partners, "is opposed to HS2, but acknowledges the views of its LEP partners".
Street said: "We recognise that HS2 may give rise to some challenges locally, but its strategic importance to the West Midlands and other key cities is immense.
"We will press for appropriate mitigation of any environmental and social impacts, but are committed to ensuring that we capture and maximise the economic opportunities and potential of HS2 for the benefit of the whole of the LEP area. We will continue to engage closely with the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd, with these objectives in mind."
Consultation on HS2 will run until 29 July 2011.
