Suggested comments for HS2 Environmental Impact Consultation Response

Many Steeple Claydon residents are planning to submit a response to the High Speed Two Environmental Impact Consultation in time for the 11th July deadline.

Below are some suggestions of some of the points you may wish to include.    It will have the maximum impact if you can rephrase them in your own words.

Preamble:

This document discusses concerns and mitigation regarding the IMD. This may be used to help parishioners compose their own ‘response’ when replying to HS2 Ltd. It should NOT be copied but regarded as a prompt sheet to create their own view together with any of their own concerns. The more views that have an individual look albeit communicating the core message the greater the impact that may have.

Concerns:

- 24/7 working during construction IMD and Temporary railhead. The detail on what is going to happen at night is not explained. Night time working is not acceptable and was not mentioned at the Community Forums.

- Perry Road closure. The SCPC proposals to reinstate this road alongside the IMD in as straight line as possible to maintain the original traffic flow but going under EWR and over HS2 have been made during a community forum. Please confirm in due course the final plan once agreed with BCCC.

- No noise maps of the depot. They should have been provided bearing in mind how early it starts and its proximity to people. We understand they will not be known publically until the ES is published. How can that be a consultation?

- No detail on the rail head. This is a significant contribution to the overall noise especially at night and no explanation on how care will be applied in this region when currently the environment here at night is extremely quiet at typically <30dba .="" a="" be="" can="" consultation="" how="" p="" that="">

- No detail on the accommodation facilities the 200 or so workers may have at the West Street camp to ensure their needs to not interfere with the community. Is a hotel being planned on site with cinema and bar etc? Any workers coming into the village will be detrimental. How can that be a consultation? Consider the approach that local businesses come to the site NOT the site comes to the village for their needs.

- No detail on the lighting impact the depot scheme will cause. How can that be a consultation? Please share the lighting plan before it gets installed.

- Insufficient detail on traffic mitigation. SCPC has a zero tolerance view on extra traffic in the village cause by the scheme be that in construction or in operation. The solution therefore is for visitors/workers to transit to the IMD site, be that during construction or in operation via rail and utilising the requested halt/station. Statements in the DES discuss large numbers of workers’ cars/LGV’s and HGV’s but say the impact on key roads is TBD. HS2 have proposed car sharing. That is ineffective and difficult to implement. Is it 4 to a car? , 2 to a car ? and how would this be implemented or policed for many years. SCPC has other ideas based on existing rail infrastructure and Licence Plate Recognition Technology and they are discussed below.

Specific mitigation ideas from SCPC that need to be discussed, confirmed and implemented:

- Requested strongly by SCPC at a community forum 2012 that a construction halt or station on EWR is built to get workers in rather than by car. If materials can come by train so should staff. Section 2.7 refers to ongoing input from the community about that so please confirm that asap. (Tables A and B demonstrate that). Additionally please ensure the halt/station remains for operational staff of the IMD 2026+ to use thus mitigating the traffic detailed in table C. (i.e. please negotiate with Network Rail.)

- A new Perry Rd should be built based on the draft proposal from SCPC. The original plan by HS2 ‘via Charndon and Portway Farm route’ is simply not acceptable as it will have various negative aspects such as forcing more traffic via Steeple Claydon and causing issues at Charndon, Portway farm and Twyford. SCPC is aware draft drawings are now with BCCC and the outcome of those talks need to be communicated to the parishioners at the earliest opportunity.

- Automatic Licence Plate Recognition Technology (ALPRT) cameras are placed at the entrances to the village to catch unauthorised vehicles be that commuting workers in their private cars/vans or HGVs etc wanting to do a rat run through the village over the years of construction. Plate numbers of any vehicle associated with the construction would be in a database. Software could then distinguish who was not meant to be there at any period. The advantage of ALPRT is that it requires no in vehicle equipment and with appropriate software can be flexible to cope with a changing workforce and construction needs during the years of work. HS2 Ltd should start asking for tenders on such a scheme that could cope with 4 construction sites an 8 year programme and the many thousands of workers involved. This idea was expressed by SCPC at the 4th June HS2 roadshow and it was regarded as an excellent thought by at least two representatives of HS2 Ltd and they requested it be included in our response. It has so please ensure it happens. (This is repeated in Question 3 as it is relevant to the C of C).

- The construction companies need to build, aside from bedrooms for the 200 workers, amenities such as cinema, on site ‘shop’ , and on site ‘pub’ and welfare facilities to make them independent of SC, Twyford. Calvert etc. There should be agreements in place to allow local businesses to sell into the on site shop or pub. i.e. the village goes to the construction site instead of the construction site coming to Steeple Claydon. If not the social impact of cars visiting / parking/ impacting the population is huge. No detail on that at all. (This is repeated in Question 3 as it is relevant to the C of C).

- Noise monitoring stations in place around depot and use of special quiet equipment & trains at night needs to be devised. Invoke a no work at night rule ideally (as mitigation)

- HS2 contractors resurface the whole of Addison road and West Street at least and any other roads they use locally. Residents want some benefit. E.g. the Addisson Road bridge will be no doubt beautifully finished for drivers only to find oneself back on the old road surface made worse by their past traffic from HS2. The old joke of returning the roads to the condition they were in should not be applied. Please make it better.

- Extend the new waste Rd to the IMD to provide a clear conduit from the A41 to the IMD site. This needs discussing with stakeholders naturally but for a short length of additional Road from Calvert to the IMD it seems a logical thing to do.

- Ensure state of the art lighting technology is used at the IMD with a view to minimising the pollution in an area that today enjoys and totally dark environment. Please discuss with local authorities

HS2 Draft Environmental Statement consultation

HS2 - Steeple Claydon

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT  HS2

 

 

The HS2 draft environmental statement (DES) was published in May and one of their route wide road-shows was held at Calvert  on the 4th June. Steeple Claydon Parish Council (SCPC) attended along with Bucks County Council and members of the public and press.
DES documentation may be downloaded at HS2's web site http://www.hs2.org.uk/ or viewed at Steeple Claydon or Buckingham libraries. SCPC has specifically included at the Steeple Claydon library three A1 sized maps to show the consequences in our area of the 1.7 mile long Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (IMD). This site will be used in the construction of the main railway and used to maintain the track during operation from 2026.

          In addition, there will be a temporary railhead with additional tracks and storage facilities
 to bring materials into the site by rail during the construction period - this is immediately north of the IMD site.  There will also be a construction camp for at least 6 years with 200 residential workers, with up to an additional 600 workers commuting into the site daily.

 There is a vote on the Second Reading of the HS2 Bill in the House of Commons next week.
Assuming this passes, a Hybrid Bill will be submitted later this year.

If the project is given royal assent early in 2015, construction would potentially start mid 2017 beginning with civil works followed by the IMD and temporary railhead from approximately 2020.   Prior to HS2's construction starting would be the construction of East West Rail which is used to bring in materials for HS2.

In due course around the end of 2013 the full environmental statement (ES) would be released with further information on what is planned to allow a detailed review by parliament and local authorities. The situation today is that local authorities and the general public may comment on the DES.

The deadline to do this by is 11th July 2013 

Please go to:  

 http://www.hs2.org.uk/draft-environmental-statement/document-library?cfa_dropdown=501  

The actual pdf is at: 

http://www.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/es_maps_docs/dES%20response%20form.pdf

 Parishioners are urged to complete the draft environmental response form and  may do it online, or by email or by post to HS2.   SCPC and the other local authorities will formally reply as well. Copies of the response form will  also be available at local shops and in the library. Please look for the yellow notice mentioning this at these locations.  If you have any questions for the Parish Council  please e mail them to the Parish Clerk clerkscpc@btinternet.com or leave at the library for collection. 

 

Bucks County Council Elections May 2nd 2013

On Thursday 2nd May residents of Buckinghamshire will be going to the polls to decide who they wish to represent them on Buckinghamshire County Council. 

The County Council delivers important services such as education, roads and transportation, social care, child protection, waste disposal, public health and country parks. In Bucks, we have faced a big reduction in grants and like everyone else our costs are going up. At the same time demands for our services have increased. However we have responded by improving efficiency, cutting out waste and increasing income. 

A Conservative County Council will support those who have worked hard for themselves and their families. We will provide opportunity, encourage aspiration and care for those in genuine need. We will continue to improve efficiency so that we can deliver good value for money. 

CONSERVATIVE RECORD OF ACTION

1. No increase in council taxes for three years running
2. Maintained our excellent education system
3. Continued the investment to protect our most vulnerable residents
4. Worked closely with the Police & Crime Commissioner to allow greater police presence on our streets
5. Protected our environment by more effective waste disposal
6. Improved Council services and cut administration costs

Campaign for Claydon Junction Station

There is a report on the Jan 17th 2013 presentation on the East West Rail plans to the 
Winslow Local Area Forum on the East West Rail website at the link below:

http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/winslow-and-district-find-out-more-about-east-west-rail/

There is also a Q&A list which includes new information on the discussions around a proposed additional station at Claydon Junction.

5.2 Will there be an interchange station where East West Rail and HS2 cross ?

Opposition to HS2 by both Buckinghamshire CC and AVDC is well documented. We understand that HS2 Ltd is determined that there will not be an intermediate station between London and the West Midlands.

However, if HS2 Ltd should receive Parliamentary approval, there has been some speculation and community interest in a temporary ‘halt’ on the EWR route in the Calvert / Steeple Claydon area to provide access for workers during construction of HS2. If demand warranted it, it would be possible to make this station permanent, to serve both the HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot and the local community.  This would be on the basis that HS2 funded such a station and reached appropriate agreement with Network Rail and the East West Rail Consortium. The station could also offer benefits for people travelling from Aylesbury to Oxford as an interchange station potentially offering shorter journey times compared to changing at Winslow or Bletchley.

If you have particularly strong views on this matter, Rosie Brake, Buckinghamshire CC’s HS2 Engagement Business Manager is happy to hear from you.

So do get in touch with Rosie Brake at Bucks County Council  (rbrake@buckscc.gov.uk)

if you would like to support the proposal for a new station at Claydon Junction.

New all weather pitch at Swan Pool leisure centre

Sports enthusiasts in Buckingham can look forward to much-improved facilities at the Swan Pool leisure centre after Aylesbury Vale District Council secured £100,000 to redevelop the existing all-weather pitch.

Contractors employed by the council will remove the old artificial surface and replace it with a higher standard pitch suitable for football and hockey.

Work on the new all-weather surface is due to begin on 18 February and is expected to take six weeks to complete.

Once open, the sports pitch will be accessible to help local schools deliver their sporting curriculum, as well as being available for hire by the local community.

Funding for the project was secured by the council from Bellway and Bellcross, who were asked to contribute towards improving the local area through a ‘Section 106’ agreement, as part of the planning approval for a housing development off Moreton Road.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “This is a great example of how positive planning can have a direct benefit on local communities. AVDC is very proud of its sport and leisure offerings and the Section 106 agreements mean we are able to ‘give something back’ and make sure our residents have opportunities to get involved in sport.”

AVDC garden waste collections starting again

Keen gardeners across Aylesbury Vale will be having their garden waste collected by the district council again from February.

Those residents who sign up for the service will start to have collections of their garden waste from 4 February, or 11 February, depending on where they live.

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s garden waste service costs £36 for each 240 litre brown bin collected fortnightly between February and November.

More than 10,000 households have already signed up, saving themselves the task of travelling or arranging private pick-ups to dispose of their garden waste. New customers are welcome to join at any time.

Through the service, residents can dispose of leaves, grass, hedge and tree cuttings, and similar materials. Woody material must be less than 10cm in diameter.

Garden waste collections are made on Mondays only, in the same week a household’s waste bin is collected. The material collected is taken away to be composted locally.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “Many residents value the convenience of the kerbside service. It enables householders to dispose of their excess waste or waste that isn’t easily composted that might otherwise have ended up in landfill.”

Residents are asked not to put garden waste in their landfill waste bins. If people don’t sign up for the garden waste collection service, they can take all of their green waste to their local Household Waste and Recycling Centre or purchase a home composter.

To register for the garden waste service, and for further information, visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/garden

New station for Claydon Junction ?

Several residents have raised with me the benefits of a station on the East West Rail line at the Claydons where the Aylesbury branch to the south meets the main East West line from Oxford to Bedford.

It would serve the Claydons and all the villages around, who would once again have a train service to Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Bicester and Aylesbury (from where trains could continue to London and even eventually Heathrow Airport).

It would be at the mid point of the line between Bicester and Winslow stations so would be a logical stopping point.

Travellers between Aylesbury and Oxford (where there are no direct trains) would have their journeys shortened significantly.  Under current proposals they would have to continue to Winslow before they could change to the southbound or westbound line.  A Claydon Junction station would save many unnecessary miles and minutes of travel.  Trains from Aylesbury to Bletchley would be travelling very slowly at this point on the chord line between the two tracks and a stop would add very little to the journey time.

Please get in touch with me to share your thoughts on a new Claydon Junction station on the East West Line.