I am working with local MPs, Hillingdon Council, Hillingdon HS2 Residents Support Group and local residents to ensure the impact of HS2 is minimised and mitigated against.
I fully appreciate that this is a contentious and divisive project and that the decision to proceed with construction will disappoint some of my constituents.
I absolutely understand the level of concern locally across Hillingdon Borough. Throughout my time both as Mayor of London and as the local MP I have been campaigning hard along with the local council for further mitigation for the area. When I first visited Ruislip in 2012 to talk with residents and see the impact on South Ruislip and Manor wards and in particular the back gardens of Roundways, Lawn Close and Herlwyn Avenue, I was left in no doubt that the only successful resolution for our area was a tunnel and I was delighted to negotiate this solution for Uxbridge and South Ruislip as Mayor.
In 2017 the London Borough of Hillingdon entered an agreement with the Secretary of State for Transport and HS2 Ltd to deliver a number of additional mitigation measures. These will be of great benefit to Hillingdon and improve air quality, reduce potential congestion on our local roads and ensure the long-term future of the HOAC facilities. My focus now is to ensure that HS2 Ltd keeps to these legal commitments to mitigate the impact of the construction – including on HGV traffic movements and controls.
I recognise that there has been a breakdown of trust between residents, HS2 Ltd and its contractors. This needs to be restored as we move into construction phase. HS2 Ltd has so far proved an abject lesson in how not to do a major infrastructure project. I have appointed a Minister whose full-time job will be to oversee the project and hold HS2 Ltd properly to account. There will also be changes to the way HS2 Ltd is managed including a new ministerial oversight group which will be tasked with taking strategic decisions about HS2.
I have made it clear to HS2 Ltd that it needs to demonstrate improvements in its stakeholder engagement which so far has been unacceptable. This is something that is made explicitly clear in the Oakervee Review conclusions.
My priority during construction phase remains to ensure the views and wishes of my constituents are properly considered and where possible addressed. My office and I stand ready to assist.
If you think that I might be able to assist you with issues relating to HS2 please do get in touch.
