Amersham Newsletter - 21-Sep-2014

Dear Supporter -

After a pleasant summer (hopefully untroubled by too many thoughts of HS2) it’s time to bring you up to date on the activities of your HS2 Amersham Action Group and the campaign in general.  As you will see, we have been keeping busy, despite the holidays. 

Looking ahead, Autumn marks the return to much-needed fund raising, starting with a Grand Bingo Night on Saturday, 1st November at the large Barn Hall of the Amersham Community Centre.  More on this will follow.  If in the meantime you would like to make a donation to kick-start the new season’s fund raising, you will find bank details etc at the end of this newsletter.

Planning for Party Conferences

As always, members of the Amersham group committee have continued to meet regularly with other groups to discuss joint national initiatives.  It has been agreed that, as in previous years, the campaign should have a presence at the three major party conferences starting with the Labour Party Conference which takes place this coming week. The campaign presence at the conferences is seen as particularly important in the run-up to the general election, although costs are higher than usual in this pre-election year.  We have donated funds to help with the conference expenses.

Legal Matters

We also continue to give financial support to the ongoing work of the HS2 Action Alliance (HS2AA).  In August the High Court dismissed a joint claim made by HS2AA and Hillingdon Council for a judicial review.  The review was sought because the Safeguarding Directions issued by the Government had not been subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment, as required by European Law.  HS2AA and Hillingdon Council will be seeking permission to go to the Court of Appeal and will be considering what other options remain available. 

There is very good news from the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. The Committee is part of the United Nations, with responsibility for ensuring appropriate environmental standards are adhered to.  HS2AA have heard back on their case, which was also brought jointly with the London Borough of Hillingdon. The Committee has confirmed there is a case to answer and has given the Government until February 2015 to respond.

Petitioning Parliament 

After its Second reading in the House of Commons in April, the HS2 (London – West Midlands) Bill has now entered its Select Committee (SC) stage.  Individuals, groups and organisation “directly and specifically affected” by the proposals were entitled to submit petitions setting out their grievances for consideration by the SC. 

As you were probably aware, our local action groups held information days and workshops to explain the procedure and assist in drafting petitions.  An impressive 1,925 petitions were submitted along the length of the route – including, of course, one from the HS2 Amersham Action Group.  Many thanks to everyone who gave the time and the thought required to do this.  HS2AA and StopHS2 were amongst those who submitted petitions.  HS2 Ltd challenged their “right to be heard”, but we are pleased to report that both challenges were over-ruled on appeal.  

The SC has now commenced the process of making site visits and inviting petitioners to appear before them to state their case.   They are currently hearing petitions in the Birmingham area, after which they will work down the route, from north to south.  The policy is to begin with key players, such as councils, followed by companies and special interest groups and finishing with individuals.  This will be a lengthy and complex procedure and it considered unlikely that petitions from our area will be heard before the general election. 

If you submitted a petition, you may be invited to appear before the SC.  When you completed your petition, you will have indicated whether you would like to appear in person, or to nominate the agent who submitted your petition to appear on your behalf.  Members of your Amersham group are attending various workshops to ensure that we are fully informed on all aspects of this committee stage and what is involved.   We will send you further information on this in due course.  If you would like to follow news of the SC and its schedules, you will find this and other updates on the UK Parliament website.

The House of Lords

The House of Lord Economic Affairs Committee will shortly be examining the economic case for HS2.  HS2AA has prepared a detailed report for the Committee, setting out why the economics of HS2 just do not stack up. 

Time to Respond to the Compensation Consultation

The Government is currently running a consultation on the final aspects of its proposed compensation schemes for Phase 1 of HS2.  The consultation closes on 30th September.  These proposals offer little to the thousands blighted by HS2.  You can find out more from  HS2AA,  and you can respond quickly and easily by using this web form .

More Ways of Keeping up the Pressure

Our Amersham team continues to produce and update signs and placards for use in prominent places and at events – such as the Chiltern leg of the Tour of Britain.  They leave   politicians in no doubt as to the determination of this campaign.  

Donations and the Amersham High Speed 200 Club

The August draw for the 200 Club was made in Old Amersham, during the Heritage Day celebrations.  Details of the lucky winners are here.  A big “thank you” to all those winners who have donated their winnings back to the campaign.

We now need to raise money to fund all future activities.  If you would like to make a donation – however small – please send a cheque (payable to HS2 Amersham Action Group) to

The Treasurer, HS2 AAG, 33 Whielden Street, Amersham HP7 0HU. 

Payments by electronic transfer should be directed to

Account Name: HS2 Amersham Action Group;
Sort Code: 30 - 90 – 18;
Account No: 15937068. 

We would be grateful if you would email dicaudery@yahoo.co.uk with details of electronic payments to enable us to acknowledge your donation.