Transport Minister says the 'greater good' of HS2 needs to be considered
Grant Shapps inherited HS2 when he became Secretary of State for Transport in 2019
The Transport Minister Grant Shapps has spoken of the greater good that will come from HS2.
When Grant Shapps MP became Secretary of State for Transport in 2019 locals in Buckinghamshire had been battling plans for HS2 for nearly a decade.
By this time the HS2 Act had already passed through Parliament and been approved, which among other things contained:
- authorisation of necessary works to construct and maintain phase 1 of the HS2 line
- power to acquire land (and limited rights in land) necessary for the works to be carried out
- deregulation of works on HS2 (the disapplication of certain powers contained in other legislation)
Grant Shapps had also voted in favour of several HS2 items brought to Parliament since 2013 including spending money preparations for the network, the link between London and the West Midlands and construction of the line between London and Birmingham.
Now, his message is clear, HS2 is going ahead:
"I have had the privilege to largely get on with the job because the decision has been made and the worst thing possible is to have uncertainty hanging over people.
"I think with a national project like this there is the greater good that needs to be considered but it is important that people's who's lives are affected are helped as soon as possible.
"We need to get on with the job of building HS2 for that greater good, and for the thousands of jobs that are created and the many other benefits.
READ MORE: Chiltern's Conservation Board reflects on over a decade of HS2
"When decisions like this come to ministers we try to consider it from to position of the household or business that will be impacted and that is what we have tried to do.
"That is something the HS2 Minister Andrew Stevenson has been very confused on in the last year.
"What we don't want to do is go backwards though. It is being built, and what we need to do is try to make sure peoples likes are impacted as little as possible."
Tomorrow Buckinghamshire Council's Leader Martin Tett explains how they are continuing to challenge plans despite limited powers.