As the national focus returned to HS2, the NFU again insisted the issue of the impact on farmers and productive agricultural land along the proposed route - and the needs of those affected - remain central to any developments.
The NFU raised its concerns after announcements this week from both the House of Lords Economics Affairs Committee and the Department for Transport (DfT) on the major infrastructure proposals.
The House of Lords’ report has questioned the economic viability of the £50bn project, meanwhile the Secretary of State for DfT, Patrick McLoughlin, has announced his intention to lay a hybrid Bill in the next Parliament, bringing HS2 to Crewe earlier than planned.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said by announcing this specified route, blight to the area would be minimised with the route being finalised, rather than it being wider spread. However, he said more specifics are needed.
“We recognise the importance of investing in the nation’s transport infrastructure,” he said. “However, it is vital that farm businesses are treated fairly with enhanced compensation paid promptly to redress the damage done to those along the line. We also need far greater clarity from HS2 Ltd regarding the economic gains of the promised enhanced connectivity, particularly for rural communities, if our members are going to see any benefit from the building of HS2 Phase 1.
“The conclusions from todays’ House of Lords report echo questions the NFU has repeatedly raised and states that ‘the scale of the alleged capacity problem is unclear and the Government has not demonstrated that HS2 is the most effective way of achieving the desired rebalancing of the economy’.
“We are getting to a crucial stage in this process now but there are still many grey areas. HS2 presents an unacceptable treble hit for farmers. Firstly, essential farmland is already being lost to the HS2 line; secondly, large areas are to be taken for habitat creation and tree planting will take valuable food-producing land out of production and mean that some farm businesses will not remain viable. Thirdly, far more new habitat is being imposed than is being lost on a questionable ‘bigger is better’ principle. It is absolutely essential that government finds a balance between what is best for nature and what is best for agriculture.
“It is also essential, once the construction of the line has been completed, farm businesses are left in a strong, viable condition where land can still be farmed productively. The effect of land severance on a farm business must be minimised by ensuring farmers have access to appropriate infrastructure such as over bridges and underpasses enabling access to the severed land and the businesses to function.
“HS2 Ltd must do more to make sure all farmers are being consulted about the impacts of the scheme specific to their business and on this point we continue to question the level of consultation with farmers who businesses have been affected,” said Mr Raymond.
The NFU are sending a detailed letter to HS2 on all of the assurances received to date and on petitioning points where they have still not received any response from HS2. This follows the last Westminster Hall Debate on HS2 before government dissolution – the NFU says whatever the outcome of the General Election, it will continue to press the new government in place.
